awfully quite in northern illinois when it comes to biodiesel? maybe its just this forum? let me hear from you, producer or just enthusiast?!! im looking to learn or teach!!

I own hair care manufacturing facility in Frankfort, IL. We heat, mix, cool...oils for conditioners and lotions. We have a 100 gallon jacketed tank with industrial heat capabilities. Plenty of left over 55 gallon poly barrels. Seems like a natural to make biodiesel. Am beginning to explore making biodiesel. Anybody interested in a coop? Walter "JR" Gerhardt

walter i am pretty much set up to brew biodiesel on a daily basis, if oil quantity allows me too. i am actually making my own processors to sell. does your company have oil? or does it have the machinery to brew biodiesel? let me know brent seay 05' f-350 Ext Cab 4" lift 35" Mickey Thompsons

Just starting out. The equipment I have heats, mixes, and cools oils in manufacturing hair care, so BD should be a natural. Regarding oil, I assume it's quite plentiful. I plan to load two 55 gallon barrel in the back of the Suburban, purchase a collection pump from diyfuel.com for $129 and fill the barrels which I will unload from the Suurban with our forklift. I have 16 each 55 gallon barrels left over from surfactant chemicals, (shampoo), so I'll have to thoroughly clean them and they be good to go. I'm really looking forward to establishing a co-op on the south side and spead the work load. I have the capacity to make more than I'll use, but don't want to do that much work.

Hey,

 I just saw your message.  I'm wondering if you bought the pump from diyfuel.com and how you like it?  I've been running on straight WVO for a couple years now.  I have a 1985 mercedes 300td with a greasel kit installed and I live in Homer Glen, Illinois.  I've been thinking of switching to making biodiesel cause my other car is a 2004 Jetta TDI still under warrentee....

 Later,

Patrick

pe123us@yahoo.com

 

what pump are you refering to?

I am developing a B100 program for our school district with financial support from BP (and hopefully GCI, if I cna get it). We will be designing (or purchasing) our own reactor to recycle the districts WVO. We do not have any buyers lined up yet, though. I would be very interested in getting together and talking about a co-op. I am very knowledgeable on the chemistry side of things, but not the day-to-day, marketing, etc.

BioBarry:

I am developing a B100 program for our school district with financial support from BP (and hopefully GCI, if I cna get it). We will be designing (or purchasing) our own reactor to recycle the districts WVO. We do not have any buyers lined up yet, though. I would be very interested in getting together and talking about a co-op. I am very knowledgeable on the chemistry side of things, but not the day-to-day, marketing, etc.

There is a Wisconsin/Illinois email list for people interested in biodiesel, brewing, using, etc. (started out as a conglomeration of students from Girl Mark's first Wis/Il classes). I think there's a co-op or two in Wisconsin, if not NE Illinois (Prairie Crossing?). Check your PM "Inbox" when you sign in to the forums here - I've left you a PM with subscription instructions for the Wis-Il-BD list.

I'm on the IL. WI. east boarder not far from Kenosha Wi.  I'm running a 85' MB greasecar & I'm building my first biod reactor now.  I'd like to see someone do a titration & batch in a Appleseed processor before I choose a kit & assemble one.  I'm interested in a semi-local club if anyone else is.  I'm also on the Biodiesel & SVO Forum (infopop), or

you can also get me at N9suo@yahoo.com

- GHayduke

 

Try posting that to the list that Turbinia2 mentioned- you might get a few more people reading it via list. To join the list, send an email to biodiesel-subscribe@v2b.org

Mark

 

Hey WalterGerhardt,

 I live in Aurora, IL and have been producing Biodiesel about a year or so..  I would be very interested in a co-op of sorts.. Let me know if you still have any interest..

 

Shawn Patrick   email: sj_patrick@comcast.net

I am interested in biodiesel.  I am your typical Northwest Chicago Suburbanite.  A wife, 3 kids and a dog.  I have a two cars, one that can hold at least 7 passengers.  I was looking to replace my minivan which limited me to a minivan or gas guzzling SUV.  I recently saw an article on Jonathan Goodwin at SAE energy who is converting Hummers to burn WVO and biodiesel and doubling the gas mileage.  This got me to thinking; are there not any 7 passenger diesels currently on the market that will burn WVO or Biodiesel.  It turns out their is their may be - the Mercedes Benz GL330CDI. 

 Will this burn WVO or Vegitable oil  without going through some sort of processing? 

Where is this oil found, what is the cost?  How time consuming and difficult is processing oil into biodiesel?  What is the feasability of opening a store to educate people, sell equiptment and cars?  Will the government crackdown on this?  What if the majority of the populations starts burning bio diesel, we will run out of WVO.  ...

 

Questions, Questions, Questions . . . Where can I get answers?

Welcome to alternative fuels (at least thinking about it). There are several older options if you must have a 7 passenger vehicle as described. But, we are on the verge of seeing many more choices in '08 and the next few years. You can search the archives and get many of your questions answered in much greater detail. There is a wealth of information available. You may want to contact the folks at Chicago Biofuels who supply the Field Museum with the fuel for their Sprinter VeggieVan

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=65777&print=1

http://chicagobiofuels.org/

There are some older Suburbans and fairly recent Excursions that burn diesel. The 7.3 litre engine used by Ford in the Excursion is known as being very tolerant in burning many fuel types. The replacement engine, the 6.0 litre has settled in nicely for Ford enthusiasts after a brief period of trouble as it was introduced. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo also offers what you are looking for and shares the same engine as the MB you mentioned. As well as the Freightliner/Mercedes-Benz/Dodge Sprinter Van that uses a MB diesel engine.

 Good Luck!

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/04/02/new-york-preview-2008-jeep-grand-cherokee-diesel/

http://www.edmunds.com/dodge/sprinter/review.html

 

 

Thanks for the information. 

I have checked out the Excursion V-8 turbo diesel.  Not a bad option, but this offers no economic advantage (until gas is over $4.00/gal) vs a minivan, and the thing runs like an Kenniworth.  The Jeep Grand Cherokee is too small and the Sprinter is too tall to fit into a garage.  Sorry to be so picky, as I said I am an avereage american consumer and we are used to our "standard" vehicles.

I am scratching my head wondering what the US auto executives are thinking.  Biodiesel seems to be the way to go, but these guys can't seem to build a desirable biodiesel vehicle for the average American consumer.  Why is it so difficult to offer a V-6 CR turbo diesel in  SUVs, minivans or family cars?  They all have a suitable engine available. 

Until they build these vehicles the biodiesel industry will muddle along and be viewed as a tree hugging, Willie-hippie subculture.  Maybe the biodiesel industry is just not ready for such wide spread acceptance?

 

Welcome to reality. We need the vehicles to allow more use by mainstream drivers. There is quality fuel available pretty much anywhere if you plan ahead.  The domestic automakers are a bit behind in their path to supply the market with the vehicle you are describing. All manufacturers are dealing with the changes in emmision standards and available fuel during the phase in of ULSD and escalating particulate standards for CARB states that currently drive the market. Sometimes we "early adopters" have to look for other qualifiers to justify getting on board, such as the environmental benefits. Of course if you make your own Bio-diesel it can be done for roughly .80-1.10/gal but that takes a bit of effort and sweat equity. Try telling your local dealers or their Zone Reps what you're looking for, it'll be another data point in favor of the markets desire. GM, Ford and Chrysler have smaller diesels slated for 1/2 ton pickups or SUV/mini-van platforms but all seem to be targeting 2009-2010 or later and juggling available options for particulate compliance technology. MB, VW and Audi all have announced plans to continue or increase their offerings a bit sooner. Nissan, Toyota, and Honda have also announced ramping up their diesel offerings. Let the board know if you find something that works.