Biodiesel Short Course
By: Ajoke Agboola and Cherona Levy
On June 2, 2007, Ajoke Agboola, Dr. Wilkie, Carolina Medina and James Duncan traveled to Westside Tech in Winter Gardens Florida for a bio-fuels workshop. There was a diverse group of individuals there, including educators, sales persons, Department of Environmental Protection personnel, universal studios workers, and others. In the morning there were presentations defining bio-diesel, the Florida Government’s support of biodiesel, and its environmental and economic benefit. Dr. Wilkie discussed what should be done with the bi-products of biodiesel production: the left over glycerol and the wash water. She suggested that these bi-products, instead of being thrown away, be anaerobically digested to produce more energy.
The afternoon session included a demonstration on how to make biodiesel. The speaker mentioned the two possible catalysts of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. In addition either ethanol or methanol can be added to the oil feedstock to create meth-hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is a cheaper catalyst than potassium hydroxide, but for backyard production of biodiesel sodium hydroxide poses a risk since it will burn lawns. This is a problem if the wash water is disposed of on the lawn, as the wash water will contain the leftover catalyst. The video also noted, interestingly, that if ethanol is used in the reaction, 1/3 more ethanol is required by volume than methanol.
The session ended with a demonstration of biodiesel production from start to finish. The host school, Westside Tech, has purchased a biodiesel production unit to convert all of their waste vegetable oil into biodiesel. They also purchased a generator to burn the biodiesel in order to generate energy for the school. There were problems that came about during the demonstration, some of the tubes were not the correct length, thus showing that it takes a bit of work and experience to set up a biodiesel production unit and learn how to make a good batch of biodiesel.
One of the best things about the workshop was that we were able to visit a facility that has embraced the concept of using alternative energy. A facility that is actually putting their ideas into action. Not only are they producing biodiesel from waste vegetable oil from their culinary school, they are also using solar panels to heat the water used in their Beauty School. It was a great example of what schools can do to positively impact their environment. Workshops such as this, forums, discussions, and conferences allow people to exchange ideas enabling everyone to learn from each other and make progress. Hopefully, the students that visit this school will leave with a different perspective about their waste and the environment they live in.