Ethanol and Biodiesel Plants – Challenges and Solutions

Ethanol and Biodiesel Plants – Challenges and Solutions

ECOS Waste Committee

September 22, 2008

Ethanol Plant Statistics• 171 plants in operation nationwide in

25 states– Over 100 plants in 10 states

– Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska

– 10 Billion Gallons per year production

• 33 plants under construction– another 6 Billion Gallons per year

Source: Renewable Fuels Association – September 16, 2008

Missouri Ethanol Statistics

• Six plants operational in the state – 283 Mgal Ethanol Production– Additional 810 Mgal Permitted but plants have not

started construction• Missouri ranked 9th in corn production nationwide• Missouri produced ~300 Million Bushels of Corn in

2007– One Bushel of Corn Equates to ~ 2.8 gallons of ethanol

(840 Mgal production capacity of Ethanol) – 16% of Missouri’s 2007 Corn production went to

ethanol

http://www.dnr.mo.gov/ethanol/

Ethanol Issues/Challenges

• 10% Ethanol Mandate in Missouri– effective Jan 2008

• Water Usage– Ongoing citizen lawsuit over water

availability (due to high water process needs in ethanol production)

• Air Quality Compliance– Issues with co-location with grain elevators

Biodiesel Plant Statistics• 171 plants in operation nationwide

• 580 Million Gallons per year production

• At least 78 biodiesel plants under construction

• Addition of 1.4 Billion Gallons per year production – if built

Source: National Biodiesel Board September 2008

Missouri Biodiesel Statistics

• Missouri currently has ~ 6 Biodiesel plants in operation– ~140 Mgal capacity

• Smaller facilities – under the radar, may not need air construction permit in Missouri

• Facilities not always in operation – due to market demand

Biodiesel Issues/Challenges (The trouble with glycerin)

• Biggest Environmental Challenge with Biodiesel Facilities in Missouri – glycerin

• Two fish kills in Missouri attributed to mishandling of glycerin

Alcohol

Vegetable OilCatalyst

Reactor Settler Washing Purification Evaporation

AlcoholRecovery

NeutralizationDistillation

Settler Evaporation

Biodiesel Process

Oil or Fat + Alcohol ---------> Glycerin + Biodiesel

100 lbs + 10 lbs ---------> 10 lbs + 100 lbs

Biodiesel

GlycerinMineral Acid

Source: National Biodiesel Board

Glycerin

• ~10 gallons of glycerin for every 100 gallons of oil processed into biodiesel

• Can be contaminated with unused alkaline catalyst, soaps, excess methanol

• May only be 80-90% pure• Marketing to chemical industry requires ~

99% purity• By-product or waste – what to do with it?

Possible Uses of Glycerin

• Refining glycerin - make it marketable

• Burning for BTU value

• Landfill?

• Composting - realistic only for small quantities, need other feedstocks

• Treatment facility may put glycerin in a digester with fats & oils. Has not been done in Missouri

Improper Uses of Glycerin

• Dumping into a water body, manhole or storm drain or on the ground

• For the most part, you cannot take glycerin to a domestic wastewater treatment facility [such as a city sewage treatment plant]

Improper disposal of Glycerin

Improper disposal of Glycerin

Solutions to Glycerin Issue

• Missouri formed task force of inspectors – provided compliance assistance to all biodiesel operations in state

• Partnered with National Biodiesel Board to sponsor a Webinar with multi-media presentations

• Education – the proper use of glycerin, how to determine if it is a hazardous waste

Questions?

Discussion

Thank you!

Kyra Moore

Air Permits Section Chief

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

[email protected]

(573) 526-3835