If you consider the soaring price of mineral fuels over the past year, then biofuels may seem to be a good way of providing for relatively cheap bus fares in the future. On the other hand, if battery costs could be brought down, then partial or complete electrification would be a cheaper, cleaner alternative and, thus, a better investment by chemical engineering schools.
Well, well, it looks like some friendly competition between Iowa State and Oregon State universities.
This blog previously relayed a story from Green Car Congress about a novel way of sniffing elderberries refining biodiesel and now The Energy Blog relays an Iowa State press report about a similarly novel method. It’s the battle of the micro-channels versus the nanospheres. Winner takes all (the Canola).
The race to production level is between competing nano processes that convert seed oil to methyl ester fuel. Conventional conversion mixes the feedstock with a strong base to achieve transesterfication. Besides cautious handling of the caustic substance, production now requires acid neutralization, water wash and separation steps to gain a product from the chemical mixture. Either microreactor method eliminates the need for a strong base, e.g., sodium hydroxide.
A downside to either of the microreactor-based conversion processes under development at Iowa State and Oregon State universities is that they also require very pure feedstock. The team of Iowa State scientists led by Victor Lin may have an advantage, however. The process they are developing uses a mixed oxide catalyst.
Jim Fraser notes that Lin has developed a nanotechnology for the production of tiny, uniformly shaped, silica particles. The particles are honeycombed with relatively large channels that can be filled with a catalyst. Acidic catalytic sites on the particles convert FFAs (Free Fatty Acids) to biodiesel, whereas the basic catalytic sites convert RME (Rapeseed Methyl Ester) into biodiesel.
The acidic catalytic sites on the Lin particles means not only that a less pure feedstock can be used but it also means that the feedstock could include animal fats. More development is necessary to ascertain whether the mixed oxide catalyst will work in continuous-flow production and be able to convert a mix of animal and vegetable oils to biodiesel efficiently.
The Iowa State team is “working with the West Central Cooperative in Ralston to test their discoveries on a larger scale.”
Larry Breeding, the general manager of biodiesel operations for the West Central Cooperative, said the technology shows promise for improving the efficiency of biodiesel production. But he said it still needs to be tested at larger and larger scales to see if the economic benefits are there.
Oh, the Maginot Line is a mighty fine line.
Image: Dean MacAdam
The focus on economic benefits would seem to start from an assumption that conversion of seed oil to biofuel is a “good” source of energy, and, thus, it simply is a matter of finding the most economical means of production. Another apparent assumption is that some means will be found to protect the environment. In other words, it would seem to be beyond the scope of research by Iowa State chemical engineers to question how much is required to achieve effective after treatment. An apparent assumption of the research is that emissions, especially the greater-than-USLD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) production of particulate matter, and consequent health issues, somehow will be ameliorated.
Someone might read into the above a cynical tone and ask why this blog is casting aspersions. Transportation decisions already have been made that dictate the energy decisions that subsequently demand better production efforts. There definitely exists a sizeable market, if only to put B5 into every diesel engine in the United States, and, it is important to our national economy and security to develop alternative fuel.
Furthermore, it is paramount that members of the America Chemical Society continue to improve the production of transportation biofuels since such scientific advancement will impact favorably upon energy and environmental life cycle assessments of transporting America’s freight. Translation: Big Farm will be happy to let Big Oil still drive the bus.
Well, far be it for this blog to interrupt the flow of endowments to the Iowa State Cyclones, University of Miami Hurricanes, etc. Rather such news is welcome, if it means developing the wherewithal for greater energy self-sufficiency by our nation. Unfortunately, it would seem to be enabling our oil addiction further, rather than taking other measures.
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