Researchers developing equipment to get double duty out of biofuels (2/15/2008)

University of Minnesota, Crookston researchers are developing equipment that would allow farmers to have their biofuels and let their animals eat it, too. A project led by Paul Aakre, assistant professor in agriculture, examines opportunities for individual farmers or farm groups to produce their own biodiesel from crops like canola and sunflowers and use the byproduct of that biodiesel production to feed their animals.

"Implementation and use of bio-fuels from oil seed crops and grain crops have the potential to curb the price gush of petroleum and at the same time provide a steady economic boost to the agricultural economy world wide," said Aakre.

The biodiesel facility has the capability to handle canola, sunflower or soybean oil, and, by use of a twin screw press, produce crude vegetable oil. The oil will be made into bio-diesel by a process know as transesterification.

The transesterification process reduces the cold flow and the filter plugging associated with vegetable oils and also reduces the typical varnish build up in the combustion chamber of the diesel engine, making the oil more conducive for use in conventional compression ignition engines.

The vegetable oil could also be sold in the food grade market if specific standards are met.

The canola-meal pellets, which result from crushing the seed and removing the oil, will be researched as a possible dairy feed supplement by Harouna Maiga, UMC associate professor in animal science.

Northwest Manufacturing, Inc., from Red Lake Falls, Minn., will test the pellets as a source of fuel for burning in corn stoves as well as for emissions and efficiency.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the University of Minnesota

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