Arizona Bio Fuels Research
Biodiesel Plant Information Page
A biodiesel Plant is basically a facility where the chemical
conversion process of transesterfication takes place. The facility is comprised of four basic areas that are critical
to the operation of the plant.
But building layout is not all that critical. What is critical is Zoning, the fire department, and the city codes department must both approve your site selection for your intended purposes. The fire Department is more concerned with the Harzzardous chemicals that you will be using in your process. These chemicals include (and are not limited to): Methanol, Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4), Citric Acid, Bicarbonate of Soda, Phosphoric Acid, Vegetable Oils (including Used and Unused), and Water. Public safety is paramount in this industry, and you "must" make sure that all of your i's are dotted and your t's crossed. You must have an action plan for just about every foreseeable occurance. A plant fire (heaven forbid), a chemical spill, a simple industrial accident (be it a sprained ankle, or a lacerated hand - hey accidents happen - you just have to plan and prepare a decisive response to handle the situation). You must also have MDS or Chemical Data Sheets availiable and handy for all chemicals that are used in the plant processes. Personnel must be "aware" and "understand the hazzards of these chemicals and the processes involved". A thourough training and awareness education program (some people call this a safety action plan - but it is so much more). These are just a few of the concerns and requirements that both the fire department and city codes will be looking for. Think we are finished - not even. You also have EPA, Air Quality, and possibly BATF Issues. Not to mention the IRS. Yes I said IRS (The IRS overseas the Alternative Fuels Excise Tax Rebate Program - the program that pays you the $1.00 per gallon to produce Biodiesel - and the $01.0 per gallon "small producer's credits"). The EPA is actually simple. The EPA is all Pro Biodiesel. They only want you to make "clean Fuel" and to properly register your fuel to legally sell it to the public as a motor fuel. This means you need a "third Party Independent Lab test that proves your fuel to be clean and that it meets the ATSM D-6751 Standard for Biodiesel. The Air Quality folks just want to be sure you aren't chucking large amounts of air pollutants into the air while in the process of making your Biodiesel. Both these agencies are not really hard to get along with - they just want to protect the environment. And so do you! At least you should be (yea I know you are in this just for the money - Right? - We All Are!). Anyway, all this is is paperwork. except for the EPA it is all alpplications and permit filings. The only actual lab tests are involved in the EPA certifications. The rest is just paperwork - but necessary paperwork. Once all this is done you are ready to start building your facility. The facility Includes: 2) The pre-Processing and WVO Preparation Equipment . 3) Methanol and KOH/NaOH Mixing Equipment and Tanks 4) The Processors and their associated equipment. . . . . . . 5) The WVO Preparation and Pre-Process Equipment. . . . 6) The Biodiesel Process Settling Tanks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7) The Wash Cycle Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8) The final Biodiesel Drying/Polishing Equipment. . . . . . . . 9) The Quality Control (Q.C.) Lab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10) The BioDdiesel Fuel Storage Tank Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11) The Chemicals Storage Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12) Water Recycling and Filtrations Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not all of these are housed in one building (but then in a "small plant" they can be). The Chemicals Storage is usually in a separate building. This is also where you will set aside a well ventillated and separated area for Methoxide Production. Methoxide is the term applied to the mixture of Methanol and Caustic (KOH or NaOH). This is the chemical compound that we use to initiate the transesterfication process that produces Biodiesel. Like wise, not all the process equipment will absolutely need to be inside (although It is highly suggested). Cost cutting is not an option when planning a plant. Costs are pretty well defined and vary from site to site - but they are not to be taken for granted. A good example is the Quality Control (QC) Lab. A good QC Lab will cost money - but will save you five times the fees in routine lab testing. Besides a good and accurate QC Testing Facility is worth it's weight in gold. With "Independent Lab Testing" running at or above $650.00 per Test, and taking 10 to 28 days to get results - a Good QC Lab can actually make you money. The tank Farm can actually be "In-Ground_ Tanks, where you can store your Methanol, and BioDiesel. These will make up about 90% of your Tank Farm (unless you count the water tanks that will store your process water - but then they can be below ground too, at least the 10,000 gallon tanks can be). So there you have it - in a nut shell. I know this is probably, an overly simple sounding plan. But it is the "right Plan", at least if you want to be successful at this endeavor. Think about it. #You make as little as 1,600 gallons of BioDiesel Daily - 5 days per week. You will be making 8,000 gallons weekly (based upon 5-day work week), 32,000 gallons monthly, and will qualify for a $105,600.00 Quarterly Producers' Cash Credit (you file the forms monthly - but can file monthly too). Dave R. Mason
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