Vegetable Oil For Fuel

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Gliocladium roseum is a microbe that “breathes diesel fuel” and could help us produce the next generation of biofuels. This reddish colored fungus was found on the inside of a tree, somewhere in the northern Patagonian rainforests. The exact location is being kept secret to prevent a gold rush scenario.

According to one of Gary Strobel, a biology professor at Montana State University:

This is the only organism that has ever been shown to produce such an important combination of fuel substances. The fungus can even make these diesel compounds from cellulose, which would make it a better source of biofuel than anything we use at the moment

Strobel’s team was surprised to note that the composition of the gases emitted by G. roseum included an array of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives, at least eight of which are the most important constituents of diesel.

“Myco-diesel,” could be grown like yeast, with the gases extracted and liquefied to create fuel. Alternatively, the enzymes from the fungus could be harvested and used to break down cellulose directly in order to create biodiesel.

In Strobel’s own words:

G. roseum can make myco-diesel directly from cellulose, the main compound found in plants and paper. This means that if the fungus was used to make fuel, a step in the production process could be skipped.

Another alternative, says Strobel, would be to strip out the enzyme-making genes from the fungus and use this to break down the cellulose to make biodiesel. [Microbiology via ABC Science]

From: http://www.uberreview.com/2008/11/ne...-biodiesel.htm

I went to Bus Conversions magazine site to see about advertising my double slide shell there. They have a feature article on Waste Vegetable Oil For Fuel. I just skimmed over it so I don't know if there was specific talk about it's application for a diesel RV but you would think that should be the thrust of it given it being in a Bus magazine. It's going to have several parts to it for anyone that is bored: http://www.busconversions.com/august.pdf

Any other ideas where to advertise my shell besides Bus Conversion Mag and also Busnut.com ? I have to lick my wounds and sell it before it just keeps on getting older and older.

FYI Here's an article I ran across today regarding Detroit Diesel engines and BioDiesel fuels: http://www.detroitdiesel.com/emissio...biodiesel.aspx

Jim Skiff, I see our next coach bumper sticker or license plate holder.

"Prevost Owners Group - Making Your French Fries Work Harder!"

I don't know if anyone realizes how difficult it is to run a diesel on reclaimed vegetable oils.

First, those oils have to be collected. It's not like the local KFC is willing to give them away. They get paid for the waste oils so you have to have the same arrangement they have to pay for and collect the oils regularly. BTW that is a nasty job.

Then the oils have to be cleaned and all foreign materials removed and disposed of. Water, food scraps, and other less easily separated matter such as flour. BTW, this also is a nasty job, not only the separation, but now you have to dispose of the waste.

Then to run this in the engine you need to understand vegetable oils have less BTU content than petroleum based fuels. They also gel. They are still dirty relative to fuel you buy at the Flying J. So you need to consider how you will start the coach, such as having a diesel fuel supply on board. Then you need to figure a way to heat the vegetable oil so it flows properly. Then you need to have a series of filters to clean the vegetable oil, and be prepared to replace those filters after each day of driving.

Then you need to understand your bus will not climb hills like it does now because with vegetable oil the horsepower produced is going to be a lot less than you now get with diesel fuel. So you need to switch over to diesel to climb hills or accept the fact you will crawl up a hill you used to climb in top gear.

All of this ignores whether DDEC will even handle vegetable oils, how the engine will last without the additives we now have in our fuels, and how you get vegetable oils and clean them when you are on the road.

If it was such a great idea the companies that recycle oils and greases from restaurants would be in the business of selling the processed oils as fuel, instead of selling it for other uses.

Orren,

Based on your article, I would think anyone using biodiesel in a Detroit Diesel engine would not be covered if the engine failed for any reason. DD would probably find a way to blame it on the biodiesel regardless of the cause. At this stage of bio production, I think that would be the same outcome with most all engine manufacturers.

Jon got that right. Then there is the problem of biofuels turning rancid in the fuel tanks, lines, filters, and injectors if left for a time. Rancidity is one issue, algae/beastie growth another, and water generation another.

I'm not considering doing this at present but I ran across another diesel pusher that did here. http://searchingtheway.wordpress.com...ghtly-tour-qa/ The place that did the custom conversion he says was this place: http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com/pro...tems_busRV.php

I might think about getting a large enough diesel motor yacht but I've yet to find a Yacht that was converted. Could pick up the waste oil at the restaurants in many marinas.

I would rather be broke down along side the road replacing plugged fuel filters or trying to get my veggie oil (actually in the industry it is called FOG...fats, oils, greases.... to flow. It is absolutely nothing like you think veggie oil might look like.

There ain't no way you could collect enough from the restaurants at marinas to get you to the next marina, nor would it be a whole lot of fun floating on the intercoastal or out in the ocean when that gunk you collect (and have to dewater, clean to remove solids, and convert into something that might actually run) screws up your injectors and entire fuel system. If the quality of the waste OIL is close to good enough to run in a diesel engine you are going to have to pay for it, just like the companies that collect it do. And then you still have to dewater it, remove the solids, and still replace fuel filters daily.

Jeff.........c'mon are you playing with us or are you serious?

Easier and cheaper to switch to propane or LPG/LNG than run 'vegetable'/bio fuel/oil. There is a reason why it is nearly impossible to find fuel stations that carry it (for the legal headaches when customers complain/litigate), even if they had a source.