Revolutionary biodiesel discovery starts at Augsburg

[Red Badger]

At a joint press conference held this morning in Science Hall 302, Augsburg College and SarTec Corporation officially announced the discovery of a chemical process that could free the United States from its dependence on petroleum diesel fuel. This revolutionary method to make biodiesel started with the curiosity of Augsburg chemistry senior Brian Krohn and ended with three Twin Cities scientists creating the "Mcgyan Process."

Brian initiated his summer research project by deciding to study new ways to produce biodiesel. After Brian's preliminary research, his professor advised him to contact chemist Dr. Clayton McNeff, an Augsburg alumnus and vice president of SarTec. McNeff, his chief scientist Dr. Ben Yan, and Augsburg's Professor Arlin Gyberg took Brian's idea and created a chemical reaction that has never before been described in scientific literature. As a result of the Mcgyan Process discovery, McNeff co-founded Ever Cat Fuels based in Anoka. It is the only plant in the world using this new method to manufacture biodiesel.

Industry analysts have been surprised by how well the Mcgyan Process works and its implications for fuel production worldwide. This process has many advantages over previous biodiesel production methods. It can convert a much wider range of feedstock oils and animal fats into biodiesel, including the byproducts from ethanol production. The Mcgyan Process recycles the catalyst and alcohol necessary to make biodiesel, it reduces the reaction time from hours to seconds, and it doesn't use water or dangerous chemicals. In short, it can make more biodiesel quickly and with a minimal impact on the environment.

Because the Mcgyan Process can use a wider range of renewable oils, it has opened the door to a truly Earth-changing possibility. Algae that capture carbon dioxide can be a source of Mcgyan feedstock oil. The use of algae oil simultaneously reduces the demand on arable land for fuel purposes and scrubs the atmosphere of a greenhouse gas. SarTec has conducted research into using algae oils to supply the Mcgyan Process. The corporation is working on the use of algae to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants while creating a biodiesel feedstock.

Picture of media interviewing Brian Krohn and Professor Gyberg.A patent is now pending on the Mcgyan Process which is named for the three scientists officially credited with the discovery (McNeff, Gyberg, and Yan). Ever Cat Fuels Corporation is currently producing 50,000 gallons of biodiesel per year and is using it as a power source. Its production capacity will increase to 3 million gallons per year when its new plant begins operation in Isanti later this year. Then, Ever Cat Fuels hopes to sell the technology and equipment to nations around the world.

All of these remarkable discoveries started with Brian's experiential learning at Augsburg, which is a fundamental part of the college's learning environment. His research will lead Brian to a promising future in science and create opportunities for Augsburg students for years to come. "This one-on-one relationship between professor and student may result in one of modern day's greatest discoveries," says Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. "Augsburg is proud to be in the forefront and grateful that it may lead to a source of on-going funding that will enable us to take our science program to great heights."

[Red Badger]

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me.....

This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....

SPECIAL THANKS AND A HAT-TIP TO FREEPER shamusotoole!!!....

[Red Badger]

Bio-Diesel KnOcK!....................

[chrisser]

that capture carbon dioxide can be a source of Mcgyan feedstock oil. The use of algae oil simultaneously reduces the demand on arable land for fuel purposes and scrubs the atmosphere of a greenhouse gas.

Does this mean we can stop burning our food now?

[Slapshot68]

They are getting closer to being able to develop biodiesel from a multitude of non-agricultural sources. This would eliminate us having to turn most of our vital food crop over to the energy industry.

Ethanol is a joke.

[chrisser]

I like the idea of using algaeas a feedstock. There’s plenty of desert in this country with lots of sun - perfect location for algae production in a closed system.

Its idiotic to use our food as a fuel source.

[Mygirlsmom]

Does this mean we can stop burning our food now?

No, ethanol is a political pander to corn producers and nothing else which means it goes forward on a continuously larger scale in spite of any information to the contrary.

[muawiyah]

In response to the question of "can we stop burning our food now", I'd say no. In fact, quite the opposite. Recall that the article said this process can include "the byproducts from ethanol production".

What that means is that ethanol production just got cheaper since it's "byproducts" can now have a much higher market price than that claimed for low grade supplemental animal feed or paper products.

[Red Badger]

I certainly hope so! But also, in the article, the process can also use the leftovers from ETHANOL production as a feedstock. That might make things worse!.............

[Red Badger]

Ethanol is a joke It ain't funny anymore......

[stylin19a]

...Mcgyan Process which is named for the three scientists officially credited with the discovery (McNeff, Gyberg, and Yan).

So, the guy whose curiosity/inquiry/idea started it all, get's an 'atta boy' but no credit ?

[Brilliant]

They don’t really tell you much about the process. Generally that is a sign that a new scientific discovery is just hype.

[muawiyah]

Ethanol is hardly a joke. At the moment we are at the first stages of a "learning curve" and not all the pieces are in place. Here's another piece ~ a very serious use for ethanol byproducts.

You'll have to learn to grow your own sweetcorn out back in the garden and give up that hard crunch stuff they feed pigs.

[Red Badger]

It’s a college newspaper, I doubt the editor even understands.......But it did say it was already in use making 50k gals per annum, and a 3 mil plant is to be built.......somebody’s got dough.......

[Need4Truth]

Here’s a link:

http://www.startribune.com/business/16404276.html

[Red Badger]

You'll have to learn to grow your own sweetcorn out back in the garden...

You mean like we do down South for the last couple hunnert years?............

[saganite]

Not a lot of info here. In fact it looks like a press release.

[bert]

It means that croplands will suffer from a dearth of CO2 that is being fed to alge

[muawiyah]

Hey, even Canadians can grow sweetcorn now ~ they have some 60 day varieties ~ of course, they only have 59 growing days.

Yup ~ need to grow your own.

[Red Badger]

http://www.evercatfuels.com/

[Abathar]

I had a friend point out the benefits of algae as a fuel source about three years ago and have been following it since. With the combination of using waste CO2 from conventional power plant exhaust to augment the production of a renewable source makes great sense to me.

The stuff feeds off of industrial, human, and animal waste, just about anything it can break down and grow from, even the waste product of the algae itself can be fed back to the live ones as food. With the US having so much unused dry and sunny land in the S.W. running pipelines to feed the stuff from major cities would be no problem either, I really think this is where we need to start investing our resources in development and get away from current thinking.