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| Written by Chava Thomas - Argonaut | ||||||
| Monday, 27 October 2008 | ||||||
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The University of Idaho biodiesel program received a five-year continuation grant from the USDA that will provide $1 million for research in finding alternative fuels. “Biodiesel is beyond the research stage,” said Brian He, co-principal investigator of the project. “There are no more research grants for universities or institutions, but we extended our grant competitively.” The extension of the grant will allow He and his fellow researchers to study what makes the most effective biodiesel, including tests with mustard seed oil and rapeseed oil. Biodiesel is made from plant or animal triglycerides, such as those found in vegetable oil or tallow. To make these fats usable for fuel, they are treated with alcohol and a catalyst and filtered to isolate the fatty acids, said Joe Thompson, research scientist in the biodiesel program. The fuels are then tested in one of three vehicles. The biodiesel program has two pickup trucks and a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, which the researchers drive cross-country to examine long wear on vehicles, he said. “We picked the yellow because it matches the color of the biodiesel,” He said. The biodiesel program will soon be adding a semi-truck to their fleet. The program tests two blends of biodiesel: one with 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent fossil diesel and the other with 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent fossil diesel. There are not enough resources to produce a practical amount of 100 percent biodiesel fuels, He said. The “B-5” blend is endorsed by most manufacturers, which generally will not guarantee a car’s warranty if a higher proportion of the fuel is used. Biodiesel research at UI has been going on since 1979, when Chuck Peterson received a grant to study alternative fuels after the oil embargo of 1973 and a subsequent oil crisis during the Iranian Revolution in 1979. During the 1980s, when oil prices plunged, most biodiesel research stopped. UI’s program was one of four or five left, He said. “The University of Idaho never stopped,” He said. UI has hosted conferences to spread awareness of biodiesel, not only for scientists but also for engine manufacturers to organize and discuss warranties. There was also a conference in Boise on fuel quality and another in Yellowstone National Park. Thompson said one of the most significant contributions of the biodiesel program was the introduction of alternative fuels into national parks. “We introduced biodiesel to Yellowstone Park,” he said. “If you look around, virtually all the parks are using biodiesel.” UI is recognized as a good information source for biodiesel, He said. “We are a pioneer in research and utilization,” He said. “Everyone in biodiesel knows the University of Idaho.” People from the program have given keynote speeches at various conferences, and the automotive industry keeps in contact with UI, He said. The program runs a Web site that helps to provide information about biodiesel at biodieseleducation.org.  Add as favorites (14) | Views: 234
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