Govt ready to sell cocodiesel tech

[hagiber]

MANILA, PHILIPPINES | Thursday, October 28, 2004


PNOC-Energy Development Corp., a unit of state-run Philippine National Oil Co., yesterday opened its plant for the production of cocodiesel, an automotive fuel that could reportedly reduce the country's use of fossil fuel as well as pollution.

Company president Paul A. Aquino also said his company would sell to farmers for PhP50,000 the technology to build their own cocodiesel plant.

"This project has been carried out to demonstrate the viability of fabricating a small scale [coconut methyl-ester or CME] plant with a 200-liter output per day, which can be replicated in rural areas where coconut resources are abundant," the company said.

Mr. Aquino said the production process would also yield by-products such as glycerine, which could be used for making soap.

CME production uses coconut oil and methanol as major raw materials. It is made through transesterification -- mixing coconut oil with methanol in high temperature, and using catalysts to produce ester and glycerol. Transesterification products can match the properties of commercial diesel fuel, thus CME can be blended with diesel and then used without any engine modification.

PNOC-Energy Development Corp. claimed consumers could save at least 46 centavos per kilometer by mixing cocodiesel with regular diesel fuel.

Other benefits include cleaner emissions, better power and acceleration, cleaner engine, and lower maintenance cost, the company claimed.

"Based on increased fuel efficiency, there will be an estimated PhP13.51 billion worth of displaced diesel, which translates to a $239.82 million equivalent savings in dollar reserves," it added.

CME will also contribute to the reduction of greenhouse emissions, the company claimed.

Mr. Aquino said the use of CME as a blend for diesel fuel could also create additional demand for high-value coconut-based products, as well as generate livelihood opportunities in rural communities.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants the country to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuel.

She has ordered the government to increase its use of alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas or CNG and cocodiesel. By 2005, the government expects about 60% of about 1,500 buses in Metro Manila to run on CNG. About 5% of all land vehicles are also expected to use cocodiesel by 2006. Government vehicles now use a 1% blend of cocodiesel. -- Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo

[ghosthunter]

What about bio-diesel?

That can use pure vegetable oil to produce diesel fuel (like used cooking oil). No need to mix petroleum based diesel.

Since we have lots of farmers losing money growing typical crops, maybe growing "diesel fuel" can help us in two ways. Gives the farmers a more stable income and saves us the dollars in buying petroleum based diesel from abroad.

[EricDRed]

I saw the same thing on the National Geographic Channel.

They get used cooking oil, add lye and a type of alchohol (ethyl or methyl I can't remember which). I don't know the exact formula or proportions, but u have to make sure the oil has no water content otherwise you get soap (which is still useful).

I'd like to build such a plant if it doesn't cost millions. I mean we have a vacant lot and all that somewhere in Metro-Manila and I could use the business if there's a decent profit margin there....

[yebo]

you probably can contact all the mcdo and jollibee outlets in metro manila and tell them you'll get rid of their used cooking oil from their deep friers for free. i think they dump the oil they used for frying all those french fries everyday .

[Belisarius]

Hi there is a site called veggievan.org which explains the principles of biodiesel and how it works. The site i saw called joshuatickell.com shows you the procedure on how to make diesel out of vegetable oil whether it is used or virgin oil, you are correct about using lye but not on the high temperature part. I think with an engineering brain we can figure out how to make our own biodiesel without the PNOC.

[ghosthunter]

the story on national geographic just showed the process to be relatively simple. Just pour all the ingredients into a blender and leave overnight to react. No external heat needed to make the reaction.

[ghosthunter]

How to Make Biodiesel

The process of converting vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel is called transesterification and is luckily less complex than it sounds. Chemically, transesterification means taking a triglyceride molecule, or a complex fatty acid, neutralizing the free fatty acids, removing the glycerin, and creating an alcohol ester. This is accomplished by mixing methanol (wood alcohol) with lye (sodium hydroxide) to make sodium methoxide. This dangerous liquid is then mixed into vegetable oil. The entire mixture then settles. Glycerin is left on the bottom and methyl esters, or biodiesel, is left on top. The glycerin can be used to make soap (or any one of 1,600 other products) and the methyl esters is washed and filtered. The resulting biodiesel fuel when used directly in a Diesel engine will burn up to 75% cleaner than petroleum diesel fuel.

[ghosthunter]

I would wonder, would it be profitable to do a joint venture with the fast food chains to get their used cooking oil and turn it into biodiesel fuel to power their trucks? In a way, you sell them back their own used cooking oil at a price slightly cheaper than diesel at the gas station.

So the question goes, how much would it cost to produce a liter of biodiesel on a small to medium sized industrial scale?

It doesn't require specialized machines, just a lot of filtration (to remove impurities) and storage for the oil to react with the lye/methanol solution.

[notEworthy27]

hmmm...good Idea.hehe

[JAYarc]

imagine, PUV or BUSes at edsa emitting chicken joy scent on their muff..>> langhap sarap

[ghosthunter]

actually it would probably be more french fries... ;)

[JAYarc]

pero i think this diesel alternative migth harm our mechanical/commonrail injector...i wish not...since their is wider selection of bio oil /diesel..locally>

[ghosthunter]

Biodiesel Benefits

1) Biodiesel runs in any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. No engine modifications are necessary to use biodiesel and there is no “engine conversion.” In other words, “you just pour it into the fuel tank.”

2) Biodiesel can be stored anywhere that petroleum diesel fuel is stored. All diesel fueling infrastructure including pumps, tanks and transport trucks can use biodiesel without modifications.

3) Biodiesel reduces Carbon Dioxide emissions, the primary cause of the Greenhouse Effect, by up to 100%. Since biodiesel comes from plants and plants breathe carbon dioxide, there is no net gain in carbon dioxide from using biodiesel.

4) Biodiesel can be used alone or mixed in any amount with petroleum diesel fuel. A 20% blend of biodiesel with diesel fuel is called “B20,” a 5% blend is called “B5” and so on.

5) Biodiesel is more lubricating than diesel fuel, it increases the engine life and it can be used to replace sulfur, a lubricating agent that, when burned, produces sulfur dioxide - the primary component in acid rain. Instead of sulfur, all diesel fuel sold in France contains 5% biodiesel.

6) Biodiesel is safe to handle because it is biodegradable and non-toxic. According to the National Biodiesel Board, “neat biodiesel is as biodegradable as sugar and less toxic than salt.”

7) Biodiesel is safe to transport. Biodiesel has a high flash point, or ignition temperature, of about 300 deg. F compared to petroleum diesel fuel, which has a flash point of 125 deg. F.

8) Engines running on biodiesel run normally and have similar fuel mileage to engines running on diesel fuel. Auto ignition, fuel consumption, power output, and engine torque are relatively unaffected by biodiesel.

9) Biodiesel has a pleasant aroma similar to popcorn popping in comparison to the all-too-familiar stench of petroleum diesel fuel.

[me_jake13]

just wnna ask if you guys know where makakakuha mor info on the PNOC selling their P50,000 cocodiesel plant? do u think its worth it? m really thinking bout starting one,since dami rin land ang family sa province..please help me out guys..thanks!!

[JAYarc]

medyo yung lub properties ang parang danger, kasi in long run nagiging carbon deposit.... pero OKs lang may carbon clean naman ehh..>>

[ghosthunter]

Originally posted by JAYarc
medyo yung lub properties ang parang danger, kasi in long run nagiging carbon deposit.... pero OKs lang may carbon clean naman ehh..>>

well, you can always try using the blended diesel fuel instead of the pure biodiesel if you are afraid.

[ghosthunter]

Originally posted by me_jake13
just wnna ask if you guys know where makakakuha mor info on the PNOC selling their P50,000 cocodiesel plant? do u think its worth it? m really thinking bout starting one,since dami rin land ang family sa province..please help me out guys..thanks!!

only way to find out if its worth it is to get more info and make a project study on it feasability. But for P50,000... it seems pretty cheap. What comes with the P50K anyway?

[me_jake13]

i dont really know what comes with it..ang alam ko is may parang machine o ano man to convert the coconuts and other ingridients..d ko kasi mahanap sa site nila ung info on the cocodiesel.. ok lang naman sakin maglabas ng 50k e, i just need more info on this lang para mapagaralan

[me_jake13]

i dont really know what comes with it..ang alam ko is may parang machine o ano man to convert the coconuts and other ingridients..d ko kasi mahanap sa site nila ung info on the cocodiesel.. ok lang naman sakin maglabas ng 50k e, i just need more info on this lang para mapagaralan

[ghosthunter]

I found this:
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http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/archives2...g28.htm#Invest

Invest in cocodiesel, ethanol plants, GMA tells investors

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged investors to take advantage of the idle funds of the Development Bank of the Philippines for environment-friendly businesses.

During the Pulong Bayan Saturday morning at the Petron Linear Park in Pandacan, Manila, the President revealed that she has been encouraging businessmen to invest in coco-diesel or ethanol plants with funds from the DBP. So far, there have been no takers, she said.

"Iyong DBP, mayroon silang tinatawag na Environment Window. Sila ay nagko-complain na halos walang gumagamit, walang humihiram, walang nag-iinvest sa environmental project (There is an environment window of the DBP but the bank is complaining that no one is taking advantage of it, nobody is borrowing. No one wants to invest in environmental projects)," the President said.

nergy Secretary Vincent Perez, who was present, noted the lack of investors in coco diesel and ethanol, two products that are cheaper forms of fuel for motorists.

Perez noted that exhausts from coco diesel vehicles smell like buko pies while ethanol users could reinvigorate the sugar industry.

The government is encouraging the public to continue exploring the potential of coconut and sugarcane as an alternative fuel source. The government came up with this plan to reduce dependence on imported fuel, which continues to post record price surges due to various world events.

Coconut biodiesel combines 1-5 percent of coconut methyl ester (CME) with diesel fuel. The end products, when used to run a car engine, could effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions while increasing the mileage a vehicle could run for every liter of fuel.

According to the DOE, a car could run one to two kilometers more with every liter of coconut biodiesel than using the regular petroleum diesel. Although coconut biodiesel costs 50 centavos more than petroleum diesel, the increase in mileage would translate to savings of 92 centavos to P2.85 a liter.

On the other hand, fermenting and then distilling starch and sugar crops make Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol. Ethanol could also generate electricity from boiler steam system.

Meanwhile, the President said she would also look into reports of the abundant supply of deuterium, found in the open recesses of the Philippine Deep.

Paul Aquino, President Energy Development Corp., however noted that the problem with exploration of deuterium is that the pressures in the Deep are too great and technology is not yet well to draw the deuterium out.

Nevertheless, the President ordered PNOC president Ed Manalac to conduct a research on such reports.

Participating in the Pulong Bayan were more than 70 member-representatives from the transport and energy sectors, residents and barangay officials, and non-government organizations (NGOs).

Among those present were Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Ma. Elena Bautista, National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) Chairman Rogelio Murga, Mayor Joselito Atienza, Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, and Petron president Khalid Faddah,

On geothermal energy, the President said her administration aims to bring the use of such to 30 percent from the present 23 percent for the supply of all the electricity in the country.

The Philippines is the second largest user of geothermal energy, next only to United States.

According to the President, geothermal production is estimated to contribute some $345 million in savings from buying imported crude oil.

=====================