Posted on 03/10/2008 5:42:02 AM PDT by 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."
Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for producing alkyl esters from lipid feed stocks, such as plant oils and/or animal fats, and systems including the same. In an embodiment, the invention includes a process for producing alkyl esters including mixing a lipid feed stock with an alcohol to form a reaction mixture; and contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst under supercritical conditions for the alcohol, the catalyst comprising an unmodified metal oxide selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, zirconia, and hafnia, and removing residual free fatty acids from the reaction mixture. Other embodiments are included herein.
My take (warning: I'm not a chemist): Doesn't seem like an overly complex or hazardous process to implement. Reactor pressure is around 1000 psi, and temperature is a few hundred °C, niether of which are particularly high. The materials involved are not particularly hazardous. Sounds like a lot of other articles on catalytic fuel processing that I've scanned over the years.
The U.S. Geological Survey is going to attempt in the near term to recalculate the oil potential of the Williston Basin, which includes the Bakken Formation within it.
^ Saint Paul Pioneer Press, December 9th, 2007
Do students have to sign Invention and Secrecy Agreements? Yes, there are Shop Rights anywhere. However, Shop Rights convey ownership, not credit.
Someone conceals or fails to list a contributor at their peril. These things have a way of getting really ugly in the future. Suppose they make bilions with the technology? Here is a Press Release telling of the kid who got it rolling, a public record. Somewhere down the road the kid will come back with some Monster law firm like F&R.
If they invoke Shop Rights, and they give him a crisp Dollar Bill, as with most places, they can keep the rest, and he still gets some recognition.
I worked at a company that failed to list a contributor. The guy helped at an early phase of a program, and left due to a substance abuse problem. He ended up living in a shelter. He was simply forgotten.
Years later, a patent issued, and the patent was included in an IPO.
Guess What happened.
"If but for the neglected credit, he would not be a bum today". It cost us a LOT.
Consider that being recognized for making a contribution could be a great addition to the kid's resume, and before he even graduated. It would not cost them.
bookmark
"McBergan" would have been easier to pronounce. These guys need marketing help.
Yes, but isn’t Professor Gyberg an employee of Augsburg, and he is listed on the patent? This happens often in the academic world, where a professor takes the major credit for the work of a student, usually a graduate student. This is far worse than plagiarism, but is accepted in their culture. The only reason Brian is now getting credit, is that Augsburg sees a PR opportunity.
It sounds like he’s doing oil/alcohol esterification with methods normally used for carboxylic acid/alcohol esterification. I never thought one would work for the other. Interesting.
What you mean ALCOHOL ESTHER-IFICATION, you heathen!..............
Hehehehe, kind of poetic isn’t it?
“This happens often in the academic world”
That’s why I posted! It happened to me! I designed a grade school as an assignment in architectural school. My design was sent to an engineering firm for refinement, and was actually built a year later. I never received even one mention, nor thank you.
Why do you think all those lobbyists work for McCain.
The only thing Chavez and his terrorist buddies are accomplishing with their threats to the oil supply is the slitting of their own throats economically. There are many, many promising alternative energy technologies that are now getting attention they wouldn’t have gotten while petroleum was still cheap. The day is soon coming when we can smile at the OPEC nations and tell them where to stick their oil.
I saw a program on CNN called Scorched earth. anyway the reporter went into great detail about how ethonal is not the savior the greenies think. He talked about the whole operation being subsidized,the lower milage, the fact that it takes 20% more energy to create it and of course they use coal to create it. He didn’t say that it also takes a good food source out the mouths of hungry people around the world. Oh yeah and if we used every bit of corn to make ethonal it would account for 7% of our energy needs. I cant believe cnn ran this.
This deserves it’s own thread but I can’t find the new thread button.
Highest Density Fuel Cell: Violet Fuel Cell Stick
SAN DIEGO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Today, green high-tech venture VioletTM Fuel Cell SticksTM www.violetfuelcellsticks.com announces it has achieved an extremely high, 15KW/Liter cell density with their Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) StickTM
This would burn any fuel including biodiesel and would be about 50% more efficient than the best diesel engine.
That's OK. Al Gore has been buying CO2. He can supply it from his vendors. (Did I get this right about carbon credits or am I confused? Somebody help me.)
The diagram is the same as far as I can see as the diagram for the normal biodiesel conversion process. I suspect that the difference is in the catalyst. But they don’t tell you what the catalyst is.
Finally, perhaps there is a use for all the leaves that fall in my yard, aside from filling in the swamp...eh, wetland out back.
...you can do that in New England as well. As a matter of fact, I don’t know if it has anything to do with the ethanol scam, but I have never seen as much corn planted around Fort Devens as there was last summer. Even former unused fields are growing it now.
Thermal Depolymerization can turn all of that back into oil for use in cars.
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