Biodiesel Production in Municipalities
and High Schools
A Primer
Providing Green Job Training, Improving Children's Health
and Reducing Air Pollution
U.S. EPA Region 4
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Process Information
Environmental Benefits
8
Case Studies
11
Start-up Costs/Cost Savings
15
Curriculum
Regulatory Requirements
17
17
Appendix A State Contacts
24
Appendix B Information Sources
25
Please note that the information provided in this primer is offered as a service to Region 4
stakeholders but is not intended to relieve the user from its responsibility to obtain appropriate
approvals under any applicable federal, state or local rules or regulations pertaining to the
activities associated with the collection of waste grease or the production and use ofbiodiesel.
Note that selling biodiesel in commerce is outside the scope of this primer. The intended
audience only includes those that produce biodiesel for their own use.
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Introduction
The goal of this initiative is to stimulate interest in creating biodiesel
from waste oil and grease to fuel diesel vehicles and equipment. This
project is designed to provide multiple benefits by reducing harmful air
emissions, protecting children's health, saving money by reducing fuel costs,
and creating green job training for high school students. Using biodiesel
improves air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and other air
pollutants. Using waste oil from cafeterias, restaurants, and local residents
as the feedstock takes what is otherwise a waste, often disposed of through
the sewer systems - polluting our water supply and damaging our
infrastructure - and makes it a useful fuel.
Fewer air emissions produced by displacing petroleum based diesel
also means school buses powered by biodiesel are much safer for our
children, although the buses may smell like French fries! Because the major
feedstock of this process is a waste, this fuel is inexpensive to make. The
more it is used to displace petroleum based diesel the greater the potential
cost savings. Finally, teaching the production of biodiesel as part of a
science or technical curriculum in high schools will provide not only the
required science education but also hands on training in an industry that is
green.
EPA Region 4 developed this document as a starting point for
municipalities, high schools, and others who are interested in these goals.
Included are case studies from high schools and municipalities that already
produce biodiesel from waste oil with great success. These case studies
provide concrete examples to use in developing your own production
program. This toolkit also provides information about the cost of setting up
such a production process, what is involved in the process itself, information
about the environmental benefits of using biodiesel and links to other
sources of information about making biodiesel from waste oil.
Purpose
This is meant as a resource for school districts and municipalities to
use when considering the benefits of developing their own biodiesel
production programs.
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Why Biodiesel
The production of biodiesel is a growing and important industry in the
Southeast and is useful in both rural and urban settings. The upfront
financial investment to start a biodiesel-from-waste oil production process is
relatively low; the cost of equipment to recycle waste oil and produce
biodiesel is approximately $30,000, depending on the size of the system.
This type of program could eventually be self supporting, and may even
generate a profit if the diesel produced is sold.1 There are examples in
Region 4 of communities recycling waste grease and producing biodiesel for
less than a dollar per gallon to fuel their municipal fleets. Additionally,
biodiesel is non-volatile, non-toxic, and biodegradable.
This program could be a valuable asset to high school students. By
combining concepts from chemistry, physics, mathematics, environmental
science, and biology with practical skills in pipe fitting, plumbing, carpentry,
mechanics, and electrical systems, the biodiesel production process provides
students with real-world experience as they learn. Additionally, this process
is appropriate in both rural settings, as more farmers turn to waste and other
feedstock to produce biodiesel for a cheap fuel source for their operation, as
well as urban settings. Programs adopted by cities such as the creation of a
Zero Waste Zone in Atlanta provide a market for skilled laborers as
businesses pledge to recycle waste grease to create biodiesel. Students that
learn these skills now will be more marketable in a new, green economy,
while contributing to the reduction of air pollution.
1 Note that selling biodiesel requires approvals and permits not discussed in this paper.
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Process Information
So, how do you make biodiesel? Is it safe?
What is it?
Biodiesel fuel is a cleaner burning, renewable fuel made from any
biologically based oil or fat. From 100 pounds of oil and 10 pounds of
methanol, the process produces 100 pounds of biodiesel and 10 pounds of
glycerol. This initiative focuses on using waste vegetable oil collected from
local restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, colleges, vendors at public
events, and local industry that generates waste grease. Depending on where
you live, waste grease can be free or cost a nominal amount. In many areas,
waste grease haulers are paid by the generators to have it disposed. Or, it
may end up poured down the drain, clogging local pipes. Animal fats, such
as poultry fat, are another source of raw material for biodiesel production
and in certain areas of the Southeast may be plentiful and inexpensive or
free. Waste oil must be filtered before processing to remove debris, and any
water in the waste oil must also be removed prior to production.
To produce the fuel, the fat goes through a process called
transesterification. During this process, the waste grease is mixed with a
methanol and alkaline (lye) solution. The lye can be made from potassium
hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which acts as a catalyst for
the reaction. The ingredients are put into a reactor and then mixed and
heated. Once the reaction is complete, there are two distinct layers present:
biodiesel (which floats to the top) and a bottom layer containing glycerin by-
product.
©Hielscher Ultrasound Technology
All rights reserved!
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Since some methanol is still present in both the fuel and the glycerin
layers at the end of the transesterification reaction, a process called
methanol recovery may be conducted on both layers separately to recover
the chemical. This methanol may be re-used in the next batch of fuel.
During transesterification, a soapy substance forms in the fuel layer
that must be washed out. This is accomplished by washing the fuel with
water several times and letting the fuel dry by allowing the water to
evaporate. The biodiesel can be stored in the same holding tanks as
petroleum based diesel. The two fuels can be mixed. Combining one part
biodiesel to four parts petroleum diesel (i.e. 20% biodiesel, also called B20)
results in a typical mixture used in diesel engines.
By-products
Glycerol (or glycerin) by-product is a significant consideration for
anyone undertaking biodiesel production. For every five gallons of biodiesel
produced, approximately one gallon of crude glycerol by-product results.
Glycerol is a sweet tasting clear, colorless, odorless, viscous liquid
that is completely soluble in water. High quality glycerol can be sold to
cosmetics producers and pharmaceutical companies. Glycerol of lower
grades may be used to produce industrial soaps. In some areas glycerin from
the process that has had any leftover methanol removed may be composted
as a fertilizer amendment.2 Separating glycerol from biodiesel is simple
because the glycerol settles on the bottom of the tank. It can then be drawn
off the bottom of the settling vessel.
At Key West High School they are using some of the glycerol
produced by the process to further refine the biodiesel. Basically, any
methanol or sodium hydroxide left in the biodiesel will settle into the
glycerol and be removed with it. This glycerol is then used to condition
incoming waste oil to refine it. The better the quality (i.e. fewer food
remnants, water) waste grease, the fewer chemicals required to produce
biodiesel, thus making the entire process less expensive.
2 This is allowed in some states and localities. You must check with your local regulators before you
compost glycerin.
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Is it safe?
Biodiesel is very safe, which makes it appropriate to use as a learning tool
for kids.
Biodiesel's flashpoint is 200 degrees Fahrenheit which is well above
petroleum diesel (flashpoint of 125 degrees Fahrenheit). This makes
biodiesel safer to store, handle, and use than petroleum products.
Biodiesel is non-toxic. Table salt is ten times as lethal as biodiesel.
FLASHPOIN is the temperature at
which a chemical can readily catch fire
and sustain combustion.
Material Safety Data Sheet
The methanol and potassium or sodium hydroxides that are used in the
biodiesel process are hazardous materials, and must be handled carefully.
Several environmental and community right to know laws require
information on chemicals such as methanol and hydroxides be kept on-site
where such materials are used. This information should be contained in a
material safety data sheet (MSDS) and made available to all who use these
materials.3
Quality Control Note: prior to use as a commercial fuel for sale, biodiesel must be
tested to demonstrate it meets the ASTM International biodiesel standard D6751. All
biodiesel produced for sale must also be registered with EPA pursuant to 40 C.R.F.
Part 79.
Helpful Hint: It is strongly recommended that initial batches of biodiesel produced be
fully tested to ensure they are of high quality and appropriate for use in diesel engines.
An on-going quality control program should be instituted, including an ongoing testing
program, to ensure the continued high quality of the biodiesel produced.
NOTE: In Kentucky, all biodiesel utilized in vehicles operating on Kentucky highways
is subject to a production quality standard. Check with local regulatory authorities
about requirements.
For more information visit:
http://www.epa. gov/tribalcompliance/wmanagement/wmregsdrill.html#material
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Environmental Benefits
Biodiesel is:
Renewable
Biodegradable
Reduces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change
Reduces other air pollution
Is non-toxic
Life Cycle Analysis
One way the environmental benefits of biofuels can be evaluated is
through a "life cycle analysis." One type of life cycle analysis gauges how
much total energy it takes to produce a fuel versus the amount of energy
provided by the new fuel. This includes all the energy needed to plant seeds
for feedstock or to pump oil out of the ground through to the distribution of
the final product. Applying a life cycle analysis to biodiesel shows that
biodiesel generates three times the energy it takes to create it. The opposite
is true of petroleum diesel which requires more energy to make that it
produces. This analysis demonstrates an advantage to the environment of
using biodiesel; it requires less energy to make and therefore reduces
emissions.4
"...biodiesel is worth three times the
energy it takes to create it"
Additionally, the National Biodiesel Board reports that biodiesel emits
78% less carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum based diesel.5 Biodiesel
also reduces tailpipe emissions of particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons
(HC) and carbon monoxide (CO). This is because biodiesel contains more
oxygen by weight. Oxygen allows the fuel to burn more completely, further
reducing air emissions.
4 University of Tennessee, Office of Bioenergy Programs: Biodiesel: A Primer.
5 National Biodiesel Board "Benefits of Biodiesel" citing a study by the U.S. Department of Energy;
National Renewable Energy Laboratory "Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide" January 2009
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Water
Thousands of gallons of grease are improperly disposed of every day.
Much of this grease is poured down sinks and drains which creates major
problems for our sewer systems including clogs and sewage overflows.
Cooking grease coats pipelines, eventually causing blockage and potential
sewer spills.
Redirecting
Clogged sewer line
ing oil collected from the public into biodiesel
production reduces the amount of grease improperly poured down sinks and
drains and reduces the number of sanitary sewer overflows.
^
Additionally, a study by the United States Departments of Agriculture
and Energy revealed that the production of biodiesel generates 79% less
wastewater and 96% less hazardous waste than the production of petroleum
fuels.6
Landfill Capacity
In areas of the country where landfill capacity is an issue, redirecting
used cooking oil collected from local eateries and the public, which is
normally disposed in landfills, conserves valuable landfill space.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, "An Overview of Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel Life Cycles"
NREL/TP-580-24772, May 1998.
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Non-Toxic
Working with biodiesel is safer when compared with petroleum
diesel, because biodiesel is non-toxic, biodegradable, and less combustible.
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Case Studies
Key West High School
At Key West High School, students are learning how to make
biodiesel from waste oil in their science lab. Through this program students
are developing sophisticated chemical engineering techniques and
entrepreneurialism. These students are learning green job skills while
reducing the amount of grease disposed of into sewer systems as they use
waste grease from local businesses as their feedstock. As the biodiesel
production increases, the students hope to fuel their school buses with what
they produce. This will lower fuel costs for the school while reducing
greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional diesel fuel.
Costs
Project began in the Fall of 2008
The school sought $80,000 from the Monroe County School Board
(Board) for the 2008-09 school year, and received $50,000
If the project is successful, the school predicts recouping most of the
start up costs for the project within two years by using the biodiesel in
the school buses at the high school, saving on fuel costs
The monies go toward purchasing the methanol and lye catalyst, and
the production equipment.
Curriculum
The class is taught as part of a 2 hour course for seniors: one hour is
physics and the other hour is a lab that focuses on renewable energy
In the 2008-2009 school year, 27 students participated in the course
and interest is very high
Students work on different aspects of the project including public
relations, video production, marketing, research and finance
The students were charged with developing many aspects of the
program themselves
The students are building their own processing equipment so that they
can process more biodiesel at a time: currently, they are using a
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processor that can produce 175 to 350 gallons per week depending on
the amount of time that is dedicated to actual production
Feedstock and Byproducts
The students obtained the feedstock necessary for the process by
contracting for the supply of methanol and used vegetable oil
Students worked with businesses in the community to arrange regular
purchase and transport of the used oil
As word spread in the community about this project, local citizens
helped out by bringing used cooking oil to the school for the students
to use
Methanol was purchased from a chemical company in Virginia, which
was the least expensive supplier they could find, after the students did
1
some comparison shopping
Some of the seed money from the school board is used to purchase
these items
Typically three or four 55 gallon drums of methanol is stored in a fire
marshal approved, locked, concrete building on campus7
Glycerin is a by-product created by the production of biodiesel. The
plan for this by-product at Key West High School is to use it to make
soap. The students may make decorative soaps and sell them to
tourists.
Currently the little glycerin that has been produced from the process
(about 100 gallons so far) is being stored on-site. Some of it is used to
'precondition' the waste grease feedstock to dehydrate the oil and
prepare it for the conversion process.
Key West High uses potassium hydroxide instead of sodium
hydroxide, which creates a biodegradable glycerin by-product so that
it may be composted in the future.
Hoover Alabama
To prevent sewer clogs from waste grease poured down sinks and to
address rising fuel prices, the city of Hoover started a waste oil recycling
program with local restaurants and residents. Hoover uses the oil to make
7 Note that many communities have limits on the amount of methanol that may be stored in occupied
buildings. Working with the local authorities, this obstacle may be overcome by storing the methanol in a
separate, approved storage shed or other storage building. This is a case by case determination.
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biodiesel which fuels its fleet cars, heavy equipment such as construction
equipment, and even as the fuel source for the treatment plant's emergency
generator municipal fleet of diesel vehicles. This program has been a great
success saving Hoover a significant amount of money on fuel costs.
Costs
Hoover began by investing $25,000 in biodiesel and recycling
program equipment
Hoover is able to produce biodiesel for less than $1 per gallon
Its investment in the equipment was paid off in 200 days
Hoover has the largest alternative fuel fleet in the nation: 85% of its
cars run on biodiesel
Feedstock, Process, and Byproduc
Hoover created a community recycling program for waste oil and
grease to use as feedstock
Currently purchases methanol for approximately $3.10 a gallon and
stores in 55 gallon barrels.
Typically has 50-150 gallons of methanol stored at a given time stored
in a concrete room with sprinkler system
Hoover is producing approximately 15,000 gallons annually: they
would produce more but do not have the manpower
Glycerin by-product was originally composted but is currently being
given to a company that uses it to make car wash soap. This company
provides the barrels and picks up the glycerin
Grundv High School, Tennessee
Students at Grundy High School in rural Tennessee are learning how
to make biodiesel in their vocation/agriculture classes and in their science
classes as part of a cross curriculum program. Two Grundy High School
teachers were trained to produce biodiesel at nearby Middle Tennessee State
University.
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Costs and Startup
The school purchased a Fuelmeister II closed system from C & E
Biodiesel in Nashville for $2,300.
C & E provided a tutorial on how to use the equipment.
Feedstock, Process, and Byproducts
The students collect waste grease from their cafeteria, local
restaurants, and a local manufacturer whose process generates waste
grease.
The methanol feedstock comes from a local farmer's cooperative and
the school purchases it in 55 gallon drums.
Biodiesel is produced by the students in 40 gallon batches.
The biodiesel the students produce is used in farming equipment by
the agriculture department and in other diesel equipment used by the
school.
Grundy High School worked with its local Fire Marshall in setting up
the production process to make sure it was safe and met local
standards.
The local Fire Marshall provided input: for example he requested the
school buy a closed loop Fuelmeister II system instead of an open
loop system to ensure the safety of students
The team at Grundy High School is working on using the glycerin by-
product from the process to make fire starter logs by mixing it with
sawdust and recycled newspapers.
The glycerin is currently used as a great cleaning solvent around the
school, including the cafeteria. It strips rust off old machine parts and
cuts grease in the cafeteria better than any commercially available
product.
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Start-up Costs/Cost Savings
The cost for the biodiesel processing equipment can be from $2,000,
if you build it yourself,8 to $20,000 for a unit with a process guarantee.
The Hoover Alabama biodiesel processor or unit and all associated
containers and community recycling materials for the waste oil cost
approximately $25,000 - $30,000. This unit produces up to 110 gallons a
day of biodiesel. Smaller processors that produce up to 40 gallons in a 24
hour period can cost as little as $3,000.
Many states provide financial incentives for the production of
alternative fuels such as biodiesel. For a list of state by state incentives to
produce biodiesel, visit the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels and
Advanced Vehicles Data Center's Biodiesel section at:
http://www.afdc.energv.gov/afdc/fuels/biodiesel laws.html.
Also, redirecting used cooking oil into biodiesel production reduces
the amount of improperly disposed fats, oils, and grease and reduces the
overall costs associated with water and sewer maintenance.
A biodiesel production facility can provide insulation against variable
fuel costs and can act as an alternative fuel supply in the event of a natural
disaster or national emergency.
Gaston County, North Carolina
In Gaston County North Carolina, the school district has been running
school buses on biodiesel made from waste grease since 2005.
The first year they produced biodiesel (2005), they made 10,000
gallons.
In 2007 they opened a major production facility that produces 500
gallons per day.
Gaston County is fueling 100 school buses with the biodiesel it
produces.
School officials estimate it costs approximately 95 cents to produce a
gallon of biodiesel.
See: http://ucobiodiesel.com/ for instructions on how to build a biodiesel processor.
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The district invested $100,000 in the new biodiesel production facility and
saved roughly $125,000 in fuel costs in 2007 alone.9
Alabama
A school in Alabama is launching its own program to produce
biodiesel from waste oil as an educational aid and to fuel its diesel
equipment.
It has estimated its monthly diesel fuel bill is approximately $7,000 -
$14,000 per month, depending on fuel prices. This fuel powers a fleet
of school buses, maintenance trucks, state vehicles and lawn/ground
equipment.
The goal is to produce enough biodiesel to use in two tractors, three
maintenance vehicles, seven lawnmowers, and 10 school buses.
The school hopes to initially create 55 gallons of biodiesel fuel per
day or 1,100 gallons per month, an estimated savings of $2,417.80 to
$4,694.80 per month (May 11, 2008, diesel prices for PADD III, Gulf
Coast, were $4.268 per gallon, including taxes. May 11, 2009, prices
,10
were $2.198 per gallon)
9 See: http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-103107-krg-biodiesel.lc48felfe.htmU
http ://www.innovations.harvard.edu/news/l 48141 .html
10 Energy Information Administration, www.tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog.info/wohdp/List_Serve_report_All.txt
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Curriculum
Erin Gawron, a teacher at Heritage High School in Rockdale County,
Georgia, is using the biodiesel production process to teach her science
classes. She created the lesson plans after working in the Georgia Internships
for Teachers program. Through this program, Erin researched biofuels by
traveling to the National Renewable Energy Lab, various ethanol and
biodiesel plants, and Iowa State University. She worked at the University of
Georgia with Dan Geller and Dr .Tom Adams researching the production of
biodiesel from peanut oil. She decided to created a chemistry class that
incorporates biodiesel into almost every chapter of the standard first year
chemistry book. Her students make biodiesel out of used oil.
The lessons may be used or modified for other science courses and are
found at:
http://www.teachbiofuels.org/Biodiesel%20Lessons%20&%20Labs.html
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Potential Regulatory Requirements
The production of biodiesel may be subject to various environmental
regulatory obligations including regulations protecting air, water, land
resources as well as regulations regarding the safe handling of hazardous
materials and the proper disposal of waste. Some of these regulations apply
to small producers as well as larger ones. This primer does not contain a
comprehensive review of the regulatory obligations of biodiesel producers.
U.S. EPA Region 7 has developed a comprehensive guide to federal
environmental regulations that affect biodiesel production.11 While the
above document focuses on commercial biodiesel manufacturing, and many
of the municipal and school biodiesel plants may not generate enough
biodiesel to trigger certain requirements, it should be reviewed by anyone
considering biodiesel production.
Additionally, any proposed project should be discussed with local and
state regulatory authorities on a case-by-case basis to assure compliance
with all legal obligations regarding production and use of biodiesel.12 What
follows is a brief discussion of potential areas of regulation to be aware of
1 ^
before undertaking biodiesel production.
Air Pollution
Process equipment including reactors, separators, evaporators, process
vents, pump and valve leaks, and condensers may require air permits. If the
facility is capable of producing 1,102 tons of glycerol a year (which equates
to an operation that produces approximately three million gallons or more
biodiesel a year), it is subject to federal EPA regulation.
Note: Gaston County, NC (above) is fueling over 100 school buses by producing less
than 200,000 gallons of biodiesel a year - to reach the threshold for this regulation; a
producer would have to be producing 15 times that amount.
11 "Environmental Laws Applicable to Construction and Operation of Biodiesel Production Facilities'"
(November 2008) www.epa.gov/region07/priorities/agriculture.
12 See Gateway to State-by-State Resource Locators, http://www.envcap.org/statetools/#solid.
13 See e.g. Virginia Biodiesel Environmental Compliance Primer, January 2008; Ohio EPA "Want to Start
a Biodiesel Production Operation? Environmental Compliance Basis'" April 2007;
www.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp/sb/publications/biodieselguide.pdf.
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Water Pollution
Discharging Wastewater
Discharges to a Municipal
Wastewater Treatment Plant
If you want to discharge to your local
wastewater treatment plant (called a
publically owned treatment works, or
POTW), contact them directly for local
requirements and to see if you need a
discharge permit. Wastewater from
biodiesel production may be high in
fatty acids and glycerin, and can have a
high biochemical oxygen (BOD)
demand. Because POTWs are not
generally designed to treat wastewater
containing chemicals, oils, and other
contaminants from manufacturing
processes, you may be required to treat
the wastewater prior to discharge.
Direct Discharges to Waters of the
U.S.
If you want to discharge wastewater
directly to any waters of the U.S., you
must first get a National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) discharge permit from your
state environmental protection agency.
Examples of waters of the U.S. include
most streams, rivers, and lakes.
NPDES permits typically contain
discharge limitations, monitoring, and
reporting requirements.
Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans
If you have an aboveground aggregate storage capacity for oil or oil
products (including vegetable oils) of greater than 1,320 gallons, the
requirements of the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure program
will apply. If you are storing oil in containers less than 55 gallons in size,
you do not need to include these in calculating your SPCC storage capacity.
The SPCC program is administered under federal regulations by U.S.
EPA. For more information visit the U.S. EPA's SPCC web site at:
www.epa.gov/oilspill
Hazardous Waste Regulations
If you have a material that can no longer be used, or cannot be
sold/recycled, it is considered a waste. Solid wastes generated from a
business must be evaluated to determine if they are hazardous wastes. States
have specific regulations on how hazardous wastes must be handled and
disposed. Hazardous wastes cannot be thrown in your solid waste dumpster
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along with your normal trash. There are also record keeping requirements to
comply with.
Hazardous waste management requirements vary according to the
amount of hazardous waste generated in a given month. Operators of
facilities that generate less than 100 kg (220 pounds) of hazardous waste per
month are called conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQG).
The requirements for a CESQG are minimal. Primary among the applicable
requirements, generators must make a hazardous waste determination for
each waste stream at the point of generation. This requirement applies to all
solid waste generators. A CESQG must also ensure that its waste is disposed
according to the regulations.
Your biodiesel operation may not generate any hazardous waste, but it
is important to have records on-site to show how you evaluated all your
waste streams to prove they are nonhazardous.
CAUTION:
The largest potential hazardous waste streams from the biodiesel production
process are waste methanol and waste glycerin. If you cannot find a recycling
market for glycerin, this waste and any other wastes you generate must be properly
evaluated and stored prior to disposal.
Depending on the efficiency of the process, waste glycerin may meet the
definition of ignitable hazardous waste because it contains methanol, which can
give the waste a low flash point.
Solid wastes that are not hazardous wastes are regulated by state and
local agencies. Each state has its own regulations for solid waste disposal,
contact your state's RCRA program for further information on hazardous
waste determinations, disposal and record keeping requirements.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)14
Under the EPCRA, facilities storing hazardous chemicals on-site must
report this to local emergency authorities. A facility must submit a report if
the quantity of the hazardous chemical is in excess of the threshold quantity.
14 42 USC § 11002(b)(l)
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Hazardous Chemicals
Methanol, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and glycerin are considered
hazardous chemicals.
Threshold Quantity
The threshold quantity (TQ) for hazardous chemicals under Sections 311-312 is
10,000 pounds. This TQ is for each chemical, not the aggregate of all chemicals
combined. If you store or produce these chemicals in excess of the TQ, you will
be subject to reporting requirements under the EPCRA.
Local Regulations
Safety
Meet your Fire Marshal
Many state Fire Marshals have requirements about
where and how biodiesel should be stored and produced.
Most likely production will occur in a separate space
from the classroom.
In Key West, they are using a storage shed to
house the production equipment and to store
the materials. The shed is concrete and
contains no electrical outlets.
In Grundy, the Fire Marshall required a closed
loop processing system to ensure safety.
State environmental regulation of biofuels production
often depends on the size of the manufacturing facility
and the manufacturing process. Potential permitting
issues include the disposal of waste water which would
require a discharge permit, air permits, and storm water
permits.
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Selling Biodiesel in Commerce
If you decide to sell the biodiesel you produce in commerce, you will
be required to register the fuel with the U.S. EPA. You are required to
complete a registration form and supply additional information about the
biodiesel to the EPA. To find these forms and for more information, go to:
www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/rfgforms.htm.15 Additionally, other laws and
regulations apply to those who sell biodiesel, which is outside the scope of
this document.
Myths
i
There are some common questions that arise when talking about
producing biodiesel for use in diesel vehicles, and several of these raise
concerns that are misplaced. Listed below are some common
misconceptions; for a more comprehensive list of biodiesel facts, review the
National Biodiesel Board's Myth and Fact Sheet available on their website
at www.biodiesel.org.
Myth: Biodiesel causes filters to plug.
Fact: Biodiesel can be operated in any diesel engine with little or no
modification to the engine or the fuel system. Pure biodiesel (100% or
"B100") actually acts as an internal engine/fuel tank cleaner which may
release deposits accumulated in the engine system from petroleum based
diesel use. This cleaning effect may clog the engine's fuel filters until the
old petroleum diesel residue is removed, although this is not really an issue
for lower biodiesel blends such as B20.
Myth: Biodiesel will create a problem with engine warranty coverage.
Fact: All major U.S. automakers and engine manufacturers accept the use of
up to at least 5 percent biodiesel (B5), and many major engine companies
Note - Selling biodiesel commercially will trigger other federal, state and local requirements and is
beyond the scope of this primer.
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have stated formally that the use of high quality biodiesel blends up to
twenty percent biodiesel (B20) will not void their parts and workmanship
warranties. For a listing of specific statements from the engine companies,
please visit the National Biodiesel Board Web site at:
www.biodiesel.org/resources/oems.
Myth: Biodiesel doesn't perform well in cold weather.
Fact: Biodiesel will gel in very cold temperatures just as the common #2
diesel does. In cold weather, gelling of fuel can be controlled by adjusting
the amount of biofuels used in the fuel. Typical blends of 20% biodiesel are
managed with the same fuel management techniques as #2 diesel.
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State Contacts
Alabama:
Kathy Hornsby,
Renewable Energy Program Director
Kathy.hornsby@adeca.alabama.gov: (334) 242-5284
Mark Bentley
Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition
mark@alabamacleanfuels.org: (205) 402-2755
Georgia:
Jill Stuckey
Director of Alternative Fuels
iill@gefa.ga.gov: (404) 584-1041
Ms. Charise Stephens, Executive Director
Georgia Clean Cities Coalition
Charise. Stephens@macon.ga.us: (478) 747-7920
North Carolina:
Norman Smit
North Carolina Biofuels Center
nsmit@biofuelscenter.org: (919) 693-3000 ext 262
Tennessee:
Stephen A. Smith, Executive Director
JP Plumlee Tennessee Biofuels Director
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
www.cleanenergy.org: (865) 637-6055 ext 16
Mississippi:
Sumesh Arora
Director of Strategic Biomass Solutions
Mississippi Technology Alliance
sarora@technologyalliance.ms: (601) 960-3659
www.technologyalliance.ms
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Brent Bailey
25x'25 State Facilitator for Mississippi
bbailev@25x25.org: (601)-573-4815
http ://www.25x25. org/
Dr. William Batchelor
Sustainable Energy Research Center
Mississippi State University
wdbl05@msstate.edu; (662) 325-3280
http://serc.msstate.edu/
Kentucky:
Melissa Howell
Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (Commonwealth Clean Cities Partnership)
www.kentuckycleanfuels.org
kycleanfuel s@insightbb. com
Tom Bloemer
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
tom/bloemer@ky.gov
Florida
Matthew Curran
FL Dept. of Ag & Consumer Services
curranm@doacs.state.fl.us: (850) 488-9740
South Carolina
Amy Lawrence
South Carolina Energy Office
alawrence@energy.sc.gov: (803) 737-8032
Erika H. Myers
South Carolina Energy Office
emyers@energy.sc.gov: (803) 737-7951
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Useful Resources
National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Biodiesel Handling and Use
Guide, January 2009
http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/feature guidelines.html
National Biodiesel Board's Biodiesel Use and Handling Guide:
http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/pdfs/43672.pdf
EPA's Regulatory Requirements Guidance for Biodiesel Producers:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels/420b07019.pdf
^^
Producing Biodiesel for Municipal Vehicle Fleets from Recycled
Cooking Oil
http://www.nrmdi.auburn.edu/bio/documents/AUMuncipalBiodieselGuideFI
NAL.pdf
Josh Clearman, Key West High School
josh@joshclearman.com
Erin Gowran, Heritage High School, Rockdale Co. Georgia
http://www.teachbiofuels.org
"Environmental Laws Applicable to Construction and Operation of
Biodiesel Production Facilities" (November 2008) EPA Region 7
www.epa.gov/region07/priorities/agriculture
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