How can we get oil from algae? It's like getting lime juice from limes -- with an additional chemical reaction thrown in. Algae are grown in either open-pond or closed-pond systems. Once the algae are harvested, the lipids, or oils, are extracted from the walls of the algae cells. There are a few different ways to extract the oil from algae. The oil press is the simplest and most popular method. It's similar to the concept of the olive press. It can extract up to 75 percent of the oil from the algae being pressed.

Basically a two-part process, the hexane solvent method (combined with pressing the algae) extracts up to 95 percent of oil from algae. First, the press squeezes out the oil. Then, leftover algae is mixed with hexane, filtered and cleaned so there's no chemical left in the oil.  The supercritical fluids method extracts up to 100 percent of the oil from algae. Carbon dioxide acts as the supercritical fluid -- when a substance is pressurized and heated to change its composition into a liquid as well as a gas. At this point, carbon dioxide is mixed with the algae. When they're combined, the carbon dioxide turns the algae completely into oil.  

The additional equipment and work make this method a less popular option. Once the oil's extracted, it's refined using fatty acid chains in a process called transesterification. Here, a catalyst such as sodium hydroxide is mixed in with an alcohol such as methanol. This creates a biodiesel fuel combined with a glycerol. The mixture is refined to remove the glycerol. The final product is algae biodiesel fuel.

If you choose to purchase an E85 ethanol flex-fuel vehicle, or discover you already have one, you'll be pleased to learn it won't require any drastic changes in your driving habits. If you insist on using E85 ethanol fuel most or all of the time, however, and you will be compelled to make some compromises.

 As the term "flexible fuel" implies, any E85 ethanol flex-fuel vehicle can run on 100 percent E85, 100 percent pump gasoline of any octane, or any combination of E85 ethanol and gasoline. The car's on-board diagnostic systems compensate for any of these blends to keep it running according to manufacturer's specifications.

 Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting and distilling starch crops, corn mostly. Only a relative handful of renewable energy companies produce it, but virtually all the ethanol they generate comes from renewable crops grown on American farms. On­e acre of corn can be processed into about 330 gallons of combustible ethanol.

 Proponents argue that mixing 85 parts ethanol with 15 parts gasoline to create E85 ethanol fuel helps stretch the earth's supply of oil, which is finite. Supporters, such as the Renewable Fuels Association, say E85 ethanol fuel expands the market for U.S. crops and creates jobs in agriculture and refining. By reducing oil imports, backers argue, ethanol eases the nation's trade imbalance and cuts down on the tax dollars and military resources needed to keep foreign oil flowing.

 As for environmental benefits, the U.S. Department of Energy says vehicles fueled with E85 ethanol have lower carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions than conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles. Ethanol is water soluble, non-toxic, and biodegradable. E85 ethanol contains far fewer potential contaminants than found in gasoline.

Biodiesel has become a valuable blending component with diesel fuel at low percentage blends because of biodiesel’s “premium” aspects. Pure biodiesel hashigh lubricity, high cetane, and a high flash point. “Low blend” can be defined asblends of 5% and below. Even low blends of biodiesel are highly effective atenhancing the lubricity of diesel fuel. The typical blend used for lubricity enhancement is 2% biodiesel mixed with 98% diesel (B2).

Several commercial “premium diesel” products have incorporated the positive benefits of biodiesel as a component of their multi-functional additive packages. These products typically claim that biodiesel serves as the carrier for the additive and delivers the lubricity properties, making up half of the total additive volume. These types of marketing messages often confuse the customer about the percentage volume of biodiesel in the finished blend. Generally, dosing rates for these types of additives is a maximum .25%. If biodiesel (methyl esters) makes up approximately half of the additive package, a customer could reasonably expect the finished blend to contain .10 - .15% biodiesel (or one-tenth of one percent).

Blends of up to 5% biodiesel are considered additive volumes. B5 meets the ASTM specification for diesel fuel, D 975. (Blends of up to B20 can meet D 975, however, as blend concentrations increase, there is a higher chance for distortion of some of the test method results which were designed for diesel fuel rather than biodiesel. Hence, all biodiesel (B100) should meet ASTM’s biodiesel standard, D 6751, prior to blending with diesel fuel at any level.)

 Why B2 ?

Lubricity data indicates that 2% blends of biodiesel offer the highest amount of lubricity benefit for the least incremental cost. Testing has shown that 2% blends of biodiesel can provide any type of distillate fuel with sufficient lubricity.

-   National Biodiesel Board

 

 Editorial by Dan Gilligan
President, Petroleum Marketers Association of America

 As president of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA), I would like to congratulate the biodiesel industry on successfully achieving all recognized technical, regulatory and infrastructure milestones that have resulted in its commercial success as a fuel and fuel additive.

Biodiesel is a product with a great deal of promise, and petroleum marketers would be wise to learn more about it. Biodiesel is virtually the only alternative fuel to integrate seamlessly with diesel technology nationwide. Petroleum marketers are eager to deliver products to their local marketplace that their customers can benefit from, and biodiesel is one such product. As its use increases in the United States, petroleum marketers will continue to integrate biodiesel into their operations, adding both value and market differentiation into their product lines.

This change should be welcomed as a new source of revenue and national energy security that will ensure the diesel industry continues to grow healthy and strong. PMAA is a federation of 42 state and regional trade associations representing 7,850 independent petroleum marketers nationwide. Collectively, these marketers sell approximately half the gasoline, 60% of the diesel fuel and 80% of the home heating oil consumed in America annually.

In January 2001, PMAA was pleased to welcome the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) as a national partner. Renewable fuel is an important and timely topic in Washington D.C. PMAA appreciates the insight the biodiesel industry will bring to our discussions.

Like the fuels themselves, the petroleum and biodiesel industries can blend together perfectly.

 

 Biodiesel is an obvious candidate for use in marine applications:

Independent tests have found that pure biodiesel is non-toxic, readily biodegradable and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

 Biodiesel will not harm fish:

 The 96-hr. LC50 (lethal concentration) for Bluegills for C16-18 methyl esters was greater than 1,000 mg./L. Concentrations above 1,000 mg/L are deemed "insignificant" according to NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Guidelines in its Registry of the Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances.

 Biodiesel is easier on humans:

Vessel operators report a noticeable change in exhaust odor. The reduction in smell and change of odor are more palatable with engine workers. In fact, it's been compared to the smell of French fries. Biodiesel users also report having no eye irritation.

 Biodiesel is biodegradable:

C16-18 methyl esters are considered biodegradable based on their chemical nature and test data collected for experimentally determined oxygen demand and carbon dioxide production as a percent of calculated theoretical values. C16-18 methyl esters do not show any micro biological inhibition up to 10,000 mg/L.

In tests performed by the University of Idaho, biodiesel in an aqueous solution after 28 days was 95 percent degraded. Diesel fuel was only 40 percent degraded. In a second study done in an aquatic environment (CO2 Evolution), various biodiesel products were 85.5-88.5 percent degraded in 28 days, which is the same rate as sugar (dextrose). Diesel degradation was 26.24 percent.

Biodiesel offers more environmental benefits.

For research vessels and consumers using commercial vessels, biodiesel offers a more environmentally-friendly alternative to regular diesel. Because it is non-toxic and biodegradable, consumers and researchers may pressure owners for biodiesel use, especially in sensitive or protected waterway areas.

Biodiesel is a renewable, domestic fuel:

Biodiesel is made from renewable fats and oils, such as vegetable oils, through a simple refining process. The by-product glycerin is used in commercial applications from toothpaste to cough syrup. One of the principal commodities used as a source for biodiesel is soybeans, a major crop produced by almost 400,000 farmers in 29 states.

Biodiesel helps speed diesel degradation when used in blends with petroleum diesel fuel:

Biodiesel degrades about four times faster than petroleum diesel fuel. Also, when blended with biodiesel, the degradation rate of petroleum diesel tripled when compared to diesel alone, according to a 1995 University of Idaho test.

Biodiesel can work in several marine factions:

Because biodiesel can replace or blend with petroleum diesel with little or no engine modifications, it is a viable alternative to several categories of the marine industry, including: recreational boats, inland commercial and ocean-going commercial ships, research vessels, and the U.S. Coast Guard Fleet. Today, much of the emphasis is on recreational boats, which consume about 95 million gallons of diesel fuel annually.

Biodiesel is a safe alternative:

Biodiesel has a higher flash point - a minimum of 200 degrees versus about 125 degrees Fahrenheit for regular #2 diesel. Biodiesel also offers low-pressure storage at ambient temperatures, handles like diesel and is safer to transport.

Biodiesel has higher lubricity:

Biodiesel blended at a 20 percent rate with petroleum diesel has a lower wear scar than traditional fuel. At the 20 percent blend level, biodiesel shows improved lubricity with low sulfur petroleum diesel containing high or low aromatic levels. Start-up, power, range and cold-weather performance characteristics are similar to diesel.

Even low levels of biodiesel (1-5%) with diesel fuel offer superior lubricating properties. Recent test results using the HFRR test showed a reduction in wear scar from 0.61 mm to 0.35 mm using a 1% blend of biodiesel with the base diesel.

Biodiesel is "user-friendly":

The use of biodiesel and biodiesel blends results in a noticeable change in exhaust odor. The reduction in smell and change of odor are easier on ship workers and pleasure craft boaters. In fact, it's been compared to the smell of French fries. Users also report no having eye irritation. Since biodiesel is oxygenated, diesel engines have more complete combustion than with petroleum.

-  National Biodiesel Board

Farmers are becoming a strong customer base for biodiesel:

Biodiesel provides an opportunity for farmers to create demand for the crops they grow through on-farm use. Farmers' commitment to biodiesel is reflected in their $25 million investment in the product through checkoff dollars.

The industry has encouraged all farmers to ask their fuel distributors to carry biodiesel in at least a two percent blend (B2). Building demand at a grassroots level is critical to the addition of biodiesel to terminals on a large national scale. Although biodiesel is compatible with existing diesel technology, including diesel tanks and other infrastructure, some petroleum distributors may choose to have separate tanks for biodiesel. Adding those tanks now to meet farmer demand will help ensure that the infrastructure is in place to meet future demand from the general public.

Biodiesel use benefits farmers:

Farmers recognize that biodiesel is a high-quality product to use in their farm equipment. Even low blends of biodiesel like B2 and B5 offer exceptional lubricity, thus slowing engine wear and tear. Plus it is a cleaner-burning fuel that is friendlier to the user and the environment.

Farmers can get biodiesel anywhere:

Farmers should ask their local fuel distributor to carry biodiesel. Petroleum distributors are increasingly making it available to their customers as they realize that there is demand for the product.

 

- National Biodiesel Board