Farm Fuel Production
by Scott Chaput 

As the demand for energy continues to rise it is increasingly clear global fossil fuel supplies will not keep up with consumption much longer. Homeowners, farmers, and businesses are all feeling the sting of high fossil fuel prices, and many are becoming aware of the environmental dangers associated with fossil fuel combustion. Some consumers are simply getting by with less. Others, however, are seeking cheaper and cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels. One alternative biofuel, specifically, biodiesel, is a renewable, relatively clean-burning, carbon-neutral fuel that can be obtained from a variety of oilseed plants, waste oils, and rendered animal fats. It is compatible with petrodiesel and easy to produce on a small-scale, which is why biodiesel has such an appeal among concerned citizens, like here at the Seeds of Change Research Farm and Gardens.

The chemistry involved in the biodiesel brewing process may intimidate, perhaps overwhelm, people far-removed from high-school and college chemistry labs, but the techniques are actually quite simple and easy to manage. The first step is acquiring waste vegetable oil (WVO) from a restaurant or commercial entity. Until recently, WVO could typically be acquired free of charge, but as biodiesel production rises in popularity, business owners are starting to sell their WVO. Luckily we found a local source of high-quality WVO for free.

To start the process of making biodiesel, Lye (NaOH or KOH) and methanol are combined in calculated amounts and are added to the WVO, heated, and mixed in a processor for about an hour. This causes a reaction called transesterification, or alcoholysis, where the free fatty acids are exchanged between the two alcohols, glycerol (in the WVO) and methanol. The lye acts as a catalyst for the reaction and the result is two separate layers: one of biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester), and one of glycerin, a co-product consisting mostly of soap and leftover nonreactants.

Fellow intern Lindsay Dozoretz and I recently returned from the Biodiesel Collective Conference at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO. Three days of intense discussion and debate left us both inundated and inspired. The attendees included experienced homebrewers, small-scale cooperative owners (less than one million gallons a year), and large-scale biodiesel producers (more than one million gallons a year). Eager to get back to the farm and apply what we had learned, we started our own biodiesel brewing process the next week.

After installing the system and doing tests, we are now waiting for the final Fire Marshall inspection before going into full production. The first batch is now undergoing its second washing, which will then be followed by a drying period. The finished biodiesel will be tested using various quality control measures before fueling the Farm’s John Deere 5300 tractor. Currently our glycerin is in storage, but we hope to integrate it into our composting system and craft the rest into liquid soap for on-farm use.

There are numerous sources available on the Internet and in your local library for the homebrewing of biodiesel, biodiesel politics, and biodiesel cooperative building. Listed below are a few sources that we have found helpful during our biodiesel adventure.

Journey to Forever
Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial
Utah Biodiesel Supply

Scott Chaput
Seeds of Change Change Research Farm Intern

Photo Captions: (1) A hot water heater has been converted to a biodiesel processor. (2) The Farm's first batch of biodiesel will soon be put to use in the trusty John Deere tractor.