| | “I think biodiesel is potentially one of those very rare opportunities that is actually a win-win-win-win,” says Garry Ropchan, Research Coordinator for the Central Peace Conservation Society (CPCS). Together with Melissa Fuchs, CPCS’s Extension Specialist, he’s leading a demonstration project at a farm near Wanham to produce biodiesel from canola seed.
Ropchan sees biodiesel production as a possible value-added opportunity for local farmers. He says, “Producers can get involved because biodiesel production can be done on a small scale, with lower start-up costs than some other value-added options…. And biodiesel has superior qualities in terms of the environment and superior performance in your engine.”
Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable. In comparison to petroleum diesel, it is safer to handle and transport, and it has lower tailpipe emissions and lower greenhouse gas emissions. As an additive to petroleum diesel, biodiesel improves lubricity and reduces engine wear. Canola makes a particularly good biodiesel feedstock because of the seed’s high oil content and the oil’s superior properties for use in cold weather compared to other bio-feedstocks such as soybean.
With funding from the Agricultural Opportunity Fund, the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta, the Alberta Canola Producers Commission and Birch Hills County, CPCS formed a partnership with Bio Fuels Canada Ltd. of Calgary to purchase and set up the equipment to produce biodiesel. Ropchan plans to run some trial batches and to have the system ready for full operation in the spring.
He says, “Producing biodiesel is a brand new thing for us, so there’s going to be a lot of trial and error. … By having CPCS get the initial experience, we’ll encounter the pitfalls first, so we can make it smoother for producers who venture down this road in the future.”
CPCS’s biodiesel processing system has a cold screw press with the capacity to crush 10 tonnes of canola seed in 24 hours, producing about 4000 litres of canola oil. The oil is allowed to settle to remove any bits of canola seed or meal, and then the oil is heated to about 50ºC in an 800-litre preheater tank. Next the oil is placed in a 400-litre reactor tank and heated to 90ºC. Then methanol and lye are added and the oil is heated for an hour at 90ºC. And last, the oil is allowed to settle for about 8 hours. The process results in biodiesel and two byproducts, glycerine and canola meal.
The process must be done properly to safely and consistently produce the high quality diesel fuel essential for good engine operation. CPCS will have samples tested by the Alberta Research Council to ensure that the biodiesel meets the ASTM 6751 quality standard.
The costs for the press, preheater and reactor tank total $33,500. Danette Electrical Engineer Services Ltd. looked after the electrical work to meet the equipments’ requirements.
The project will evaluate the technical and economic aspects of biodiesel production. For instance, they will determine input amounts and costs, as well as the effects of different grades of canola seed on biodiesel quality. They’ll also look into various market opportunities.
Ropchan sees some exciting possibilities beyond on-farm use of the biodiesel, such as: using the canola meal as a high protein feed supplement; selling the glycerine, which has various possible uses; selling the canola oil; and selling the biodiesel as an additive or a fuel. He adds, “I count myself lucky to be on the leading edge of bringing a new opportunity to Alberta producers.” |
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