1. Biodiesel Research at The University of Georgia Daniel Geller – UGA Engineering Outreach http://www.engr.uga.edu/service/outreach

2. UGA Biodiesel Highlights 1980 - Biodiesel program begins 1981 – UGA buses run on peanut oil 1984 – Development of small diesel engine testing laboratory 1996 – UGA B20 bus demonstration for the Olympics 2003 – UGA boilers run on poultry fat 2006 – Southeastern Biodiesel Workshops 2007 – All UGA buses run on B20

3. FATS and OILS + ALCOHOL catalys t BIODIESEL + GLYCERO L Biodiesel Production Simple to make Difficult to make right - Biodiesel is made by the transesterification of vegetable oils C R1R1 + 3MeOH C C C OH Me + Triglyceride (fats and oils)‏ Methanol (alcohol)‏ Glycerol Methyl Ester (Biodiesel)‏ KOH O C O C R2R2 O C O C R3R3 O C O R1R1 O C O R2R2 O C O R3R3 O C O

4. Poultry Fat Georgia is Nation’s largest producer of poultry Historically, value of poultry fat was quite low ~$.12/lb 2003: UGA researchers examine fuel properties of poultry fat Poultry fat developed as boiler fuel at UGA US Biofuels in Rome, GA successfully utilizes poultry fat as Biodiesel feedstock

5. Poultry Fat - Issues Limited supply of high quality material for Biodiesel production Value of material increases due to increased demand from fuel markets Waste treatment at poultry processing facilities not optimized for oil recovery RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY

6. Poultry Fat - Research Development of simple screening methods for the identification of potential fuel feedstock streams Development of advanced mechanical methods for the recovery of fats from waste streams Use of recovered waste streams as boiler fuel and Biodiesel feedstocks

7. Poultry Fat - Research Development of multi- phase processing techniques to treat high FFA materials (in conjunction with GA Tech)‏ Development of solid state acidic and basic catalyst systems to develop semi- continuous conversion system

8. Expansion to Food Processing Industry Methods developed for poultry industry can be applied to any producer of waste fats and greases Current screening of multiple food processing facility waste streams in Georgia Development of the Georgia Biofuel feedstock database

9. Expansion to Food Processing Industry Food processing streams reveal relatively high quality oil streams going to by-products (pet food, etc.)‏ Capture of waste streams proving to be relatively easy as in house aggregation common

10. Algae - Potential High oil yield potential Over 50% oil by mass Predicted oil yields of 1000-20000 gal/acre Soy only 50-100 gal/acre Photosynthetic: Only needs light and CO 2 for oil production

11. Algae – Obstacles: Growth Must stress algae for max oil output Limitations in space/light/doubling time 1000s of species: Optimum oil producers are not always optimal for growth

12. Algae – Obstacles: Harvesting Open pond algae systems result in 1 part algae per 1000 parts water Traditional filtering systems do not work Must remove algae from the water

13. Algae – Obstacles: Extraction Unique Cell Wall – must be disrupted Immersion in water, complicates oil extraction Traditional extraction methods do not work

14. Algae – Obstacles: Conversion Secondary metabolites from stressed growth inhibit transesterification Oil soluble proteins precipitate with addition of MeOH

15. Algae – UGA Research Newly funded DOE project: Improving cost effectiveness of algae-lipid production through advances in nutrient delivery and processing systems

16. Algae – UGA Research Use poultry litter and carpet industry wastewaters as nutrient source Evaluate Carbon capture of algae systems Algae harvesting using fiber flocculation

17. Algae – UGA Research Cell disruption using explosive decompression Evaluate feed value of algal meal Develop non- chemical lipid extraction techniques

18. Algae – UGA Research Approach Electromagnetic biostimulation

19. Oilseed Radish (Raphinus sativus)‏ Cool season cover crop Traditionally used to protect and enhance soil Low-input crop; drought/disease resistant Normally plowed under at the end of cool season

20. Oilseed Radish Biodiesel feedstock potential Non-food crop Seed contains up to 48% oil Very low input: high oil yield/dollar ratio Agronomic Benefits Secondary income source; not primary cash crop Possibility to get two crops/year in GA plus primary cash crop

21. Oilseed Radish: State of Research Seed has been obtained and crushed using inexpensive extruder Cold crush yielded 30% oil without solvent Oil fuel properties analyzed Oil converted to Biodiesel Meal evaluated as animal feed

22. Oilseed Radish: Economics Currently growing oilseed radish in Dawson, GA. Current stands thriving with only fertilizer+seed+labor inputs Added economic benefits: nematode control, erosion control, nitrogen scavenging Non-edible oil (high erucic acid) may keep oil out of commodity markets

23. Daniel Geller dgeller@engr.uga.edu 706-248-1513 http://www.engr.uga.edu/service/outreach