Hi, all - apologies for cross posting
- please forward to any who might have pertinent info and a willingness
to share. Are you someone who "will work for swag?" Swag
rewards described below.
We've been working off and on to gather
the best current information for best practices in the corn ethanol side
of biofuels production. But we just received a request for the best
practices in biodiesel production. We could use your help in identifying
the your favorite information sources on the subject of biodiesel production.
One of the things we've learned is that this is a batch process that
can be done with a minimal level of expertise, and is suitable for
the do-it-yourselfer. Quality of fuel is definitely variable. A
competent DIY effort can grow by adding tanks, and soon a small business
is born. Stories now accumulating on backyard biofuel production
fires (most recent: http://www.newswatch50.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=c7b78220-e924-4836-a24b-293c740de6db
) and increasing cooking grease barrel thievery. Just the kind
of growth that could use a list of best practices. Appreciate any
help you can offer on this.
We are further along with information
for corn ethanol production. If you are willing, we'd love your editing
to improve the information we already have for corn ethanol production.
I have attached a draft document of resources we have vetted, and
linked to our copy in a wiki format so that you can edit it on the fly
for others to see. [RANT: I am of the opinion that the greatest opportunity
for greening ethanol now lies with producers greeing their supply chain
- applying pressure for grain producers to incorporate the best practices
that extension has been touting for years. I'm not going to get into
ag production systems impact too much, but simply note that many of my
neighbors (and, sadly, even relatives) have been knocking down miles long
rows of trees and brush you know as windbreaks (a.k.a. shelter-belts) to
create more room to grow grain. Ahem. Nebraskans used to proudly
call themselves the Treeplanter State. I guess it's part of the ethic
of making hay while the sun shines.]
We are finding out some fun things related
to ethanol production - such as the fact that the FDA has expressed concern
about the antibiotics used to adjust the mix of the fermentation tanks
in a process where a byproduct (distillers grains) becomes feed for cattle
and therefore part of our food chain. Also, spilled ethanol left
in the ground for a while becomes a safety hazard due to a potential to
explode. Always an adventure working in this field.
If you can help with ethanol, the wiki
entry is here: http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/p2rx-wiki/index.php/Ethanol_refinery_best_practices If you would rather comment on a more
traditional document format, you can request the draft best practices for
ethanol production from P2RIC student staff member jgrafton@unomaha.edu
He will also be the best point of contact for suggested resources you want
to make directly to us. And, he is the keeper of the swag.
Swag offer: If you offer us a
best practice reference or resource for ethanol production we do not already
have and which we add to the draft best practices, we will send you a very
cool P2RIC mug. We don't have much information collected for the
biodiesel production, so the best ten P2 resources collected and used in
a new draft and wiki for biodiesel will also be offered a mug. These mugs
do more than just hold your beverage of choice, they also remind you to
"Fight Waste". To look at your reward for making a meaningful
contribution to the ethanol Best Practices List follow this link http://www.p2ric.org/measurement/merchandise.cfm
thanks in advance for your help.
Regards,
Rick
PS: I know, all of this is on the heels
of this week's UN Food Conference. We're looking at improving these processes,
not on arguing the merits of the use of ag-land for fuel production. I
acknowledge the issue in advance. It used to be said that modern
agriculture is the practice of turning petroleum into food. now it's
morphed into the practice of turning food into petroleum.