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
(573) 526-3835
