Posted on 12/14/2009 7:49:57 AM PST by Red Badger
DES MOINES, Iowa — A central Iowa plant could soon begin producing jet fuel from poultry fat.
Bolingbrook, Ill.-based Elevance Renewable Sciences plans to build a $15 million plant in Newton, adding onto an existing biodiesel operation.
The experimental operation plans to use plant oils and poultry fat as building blocks to replace petroleum-based chemicals used to make myriad products, including jet fuel, lubricants, adhesives and even cosmetics and candles.
"It allows us to make a very interesting slate of products, which is different and somewhat in contrast to how poultry fat is used today," said K'Lynne Johnson, Elevance's chief executive. "We are taking a waste stream of products ... and using it in a higher value manner."
The project, funded in part by $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, could get the final go-ahead by late January, Johnson said. The company also is seeking state financial support.
Construction of the plant would create up to 50 jobs, and seven or so permanent positions would be needed to run the biorefinery.
About one-fourth of first-year production would be focused on poultry fat. After that, Johnson said they'll let the market and their partners determine how much of its production would be dedicated to that area.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. poultry industry produces about 1.4 billion pounds of poultry fat every year.
Using Elevance's technology, that fat could produce about 250 million gallons of products including diesel fuel, jet fuel and specialty chemicals that can replace petroleum products, Johnson said. A biofuels processor needs the fat from about 50 chickens to make one gallon of fuel.
"In some ways it subsidizes actual food production because it lets poultry farmers get higher value for every chicken that they raise for food," Johnson said.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
They already took the tortillas AND the whiskey, so unless you like it fried, it won't affect you.
I think it is a good thing, as long as it is limited to animals.
I think we should “use the whole buffalo” and any former waste product that can be put to good use is a good thing.
Much like with ethanol plants that can use corn to make ethanol and the byproduct can be used as a supplement for cattle feed, well depending on the process used to make ethanol which is still a somewhat negative means gain.
Are there ANY ALTERNATE FUELS that have made it into the market place without government subsidies?
I have no problem at all with “biofuels”.But the *last* place we should be using it is with jet fuel.I don’t want to be half way over the Pacific when the “bio” stuff in the fuel decides to freeze up.Yah,I’ll try biodiesel in my car (assuming the manufacturer allows it under the warranty) but not in any 777 in which *I’m* traveling.
“I wonder how long it will be before the population control activists approach this company about doing a joint venture.”
Tubebender sums this up fairly well.
‘Oh sure... chickens today and us old folk tomorrow...”
Of course this will have to happen before we are herded up into the local biospheres and can only eat organic food raised locally or Soylent Green.
When that happens, no one will have any fat on their body.
Newton, get the hell away from this as soon as possible. My little burg just had a plant shuttered that produced diesel from hog and turkey offal. The operation was claimed to be odor free before it began operation. The smell produced fouled the atmosphere of the entire city. Real estate prices plummeted due to the sickening stench.
The plant was also financed by the federal government. It was a disaster for my city.
Thank the Lord it had to close down. The exhaust, of the diesel produced, smelled as bad as the processing of the animal guts, I’ve been told by those who tried the fuel.
If it has piezo fuel injectors, it isn't...........
None that come to mind................
Don't know (although,I guess,I should) what kind of fuel injectors mine has but the manual states anything more than B5 voids the warranty.
If it’s newer than a 2000, it probably does..........
Your post reminds me of the vacation time I've spent in Bradenton,FL....home of a huge Tropicana plant.When they're doing a "run" you can smell citrus for some distance.It's kinda cool! Sure better than smelling chicken innards.
Yah,it's an '09....and it's German (although I think all the diesels in this country are German).
Be careful. Make absolutely sure that any commercial fuels you buy do not have any biodiesel additives. It will clog the injectors and you will be stranded right there. The repairs will cost about 5 grand and are not under the warranty................
Apart from a big road trip I took (Midwest,Canada) I buy all my fuel at one of three nearby stations...Hess,Gulf and Sunoco.And on the road trip I stuck with major brands just off the Interstate.
Hey hey hey!!!
I’m old but not THAT old!!!
/fib
I caught a blurb in our fish wrap that the Eureka city council will consider a application from Chevron for a ETHANOL offloading pipeline for their bulk plant here. Most fuel comes by barge from Benecia and is distributed to all brands except Costco and the Casinos who truck in their fuel...
Why pick on alternatives; is any fuel not government subsidized?
Gerold Nadler, Hillary and Michael Moore should keep the busy and profitable for several years.
Ethenol from waste would be OK, from Corn is stupid, turning food into fuel on it’s face is dumb but the % efficiency makes it dumber still and if that wasn’t enough it is counter productive to it’s stated goals to boot.
DUMB... DUMB ... DUMB
Sure did move the wealth around though, and made my old Boat just about worthless (since I can’t buy fuel without ethanol in it I have to replace my Tanks at a cost equal to the value of my beloved Boat)
TT
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