BrevardBioDiesel Blog

The ASTM organization has approved new and updated standards for biodiesel that should widen the reach of this alternative fuel.

The conventional petro-diesel specification (ASTM D975) has been updated to support up to 5% biodiesel blend. This means many regular diesel pumps across the nation could start carry up to B5.

A new specification covering B6-B20 should allow automakers to more easily approve use of these blends in their cars and trucks. The press release states "Several more companies are expected to raise their approvals to B20 now that the final ASTM specifications for B6-B20 blends have been approved."

Still ahead of world record pace, the biodiesel powered boat "Earthrace" is over 18,000 nautical miles along its route back to Sagunto (Spain) from where this, their second attempt, was initiated on 27 April. A recent rapid 80-minute refueling stop in India was the next to last port the boat will visit. Next up is their 12th stop at Port Said along the Suez Canal.
Nautical Mile sponsorships are still available if you would like to help with the pecuniary power part of their mission.

(Our previous entries on Earthrace.)

XL Techgroups's (of Melbourne, FL) company PetroAlgae has been showing their Fellsmere located algae photo-bio-reactor (PBR) system to the media this month. Orlando TV station WFTV does a good job of covering the facility. At production rates of 10,000 - 40,000 gallons per acre the company hopes to "roll out the technology worldwide by 2009" according to the report.
Some scientists are skeptical of the cost effectiveness of a closed PBR system, and are concentrating on cheaper-per-acre open ponds for algae growth instead. Either way, CO2-eating algae would be a wonderful alternative to exhuming dinosaur juice to fuel our vehicles.

Orlando NBC station WESH has a report and video segment online detailing the work of a group of UCF students that are converting used Chick-fil-A grease into biodiesel via an Appleseed processor. The students also donate 20% of their processed fuel to the university for their use in dozens of on-campus diesel vehicles. The story notes the requirement to pay Florida state fuel taxes on home-brewed biodiesel. Overall a pretty accurate report.
Example of content:

They have been draining smelly fryer grease and feeding it to their bio-diesel reactor -- a fancy name for a water heater, some pipes, valves, hoses, and filters that turn grease and two household chemicals into fuel. The newly formed fuel powers their diesel engine cars.

"To make a gallon of bio-diesel, it's about 80 cents," UCF student Michael Schulist said.

Not only cheap, the muddy looking bio-diesel burns cleaner than its petroleum-based cousin.

"Petro-diesel is a very dirty fuel. This is a very clean burning fuel," Schulist said.

It produces less CO2 -- the main threat to our climate -- than gasoline or regular diesel.

"It would limit the amount of pollution we put into the air but it would also save a lot of money," UCF assistant professor Ali Gordon said.

Two biodiesel powered sojourns kick off this weekend:

• Earthrace - the biodiesel powered boat we've written about before kicks off their second attempt at breaking the world circumnavigation record. This time they are leaving from Spain, heading West through the Straits of Gibraltar, to the Panama Canal etc. They hope to beat the current record of 74 days, 23 hours and 53 minutes. We wish them a safe journey!
• The Dirty Hands Caravan, a string of biodiesel powered buses, leaves from the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, CA with plans to arrive on May 4th at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Volunteers can register to take part in the caravan and will volunteer at local organizations along the way. Safe travels to these participants also!