A Concept That Works: Biodiesel & Synthetics

Our dependence on foreign oil has completely taken control over our daily routines, budgets and lifestyle’s. Other methods are available and it is time that these new and ingenious ideas were made right here in West Virginia.

Biodiesel:
Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean oil or canola. It is a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin ( a valuable byproduct sold to be used in soaps and other products).

Biodiesel is typically produced by a reaction of a vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol such as methane or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst to yield mono-alkyl esters and glycerin, which is removed.

Biodiesel can be used in any concentration with petroleum based diesel fuel in existing diesel engines with little or no modification. It is not the same as raw vegetable oil.

It is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA, and hopefully in West Virginia with urging and prodding from my administration, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes greatly not only to the West Virginia economy, but the economy and dependence of the entire United States!

Thermochemical Synthetic Gas:
Building a biorefinery in West Virginia is a real possibility considering our timber and farming products that this process uses. With the available government assistance to free ourselves from the dependency of foreign oil, then this can be a reality!

A refinery using the thermochemical method to produce synthetic gas from organic matter, such as cotton stalks, pulp and paperboard, can be converted to a liquid and sold to petroleum companies.

Waste biomass can be considered as a potential feedstock source for sustainable energy production. Biomass can be converted to chemicals either by thermochemical or biological processes. Gasification is one of the thermo chemical methods of converting biomass to synthetic gas (CO an H2). The synthetic gas produced can be converted to different chemicals like ethanol, acetic acid, etc., chemically or by using biological catalysts.

Other renewable resources from West Virginia are hard wood, soft wood and switch grass. The biological conversion of synthetic gas requires minimal tar content, a catalytic converter/destructor is used to reduce the amount of tars generated during gasification.

This will provide West Virginian’s with high paying jobs and keep our “newly” graduated, and experienced professors here. And solve the crushing dependency we have on foreign oil products.