New regulations from EPA for commercial plants, just made my job harder......... http://www.epa.gov/region07/prioriti...sel_manual.pdf

 

So you're commercial? I thought that you were just being energy independent?

 

Holy cow! 144 pg download. Leave it to the Gov.

 

GREAT....144 pages from the Washington GAS BAGS. We will be next with the "homebrew". If there is any way that Washington can get more involved in our life, they will do it. Well, it was a nice run.
Tom

 

Yes, and Yes! I also design "micro" Biodiesel plants ( under 500,000 gallons/year). These "rules" will also affect the plants I design, and small co-op's.

 

I think it's high time those on the Hill stopped talking and started listening. This country needs to get back to 'by the PEOPLE, FOR the people.

 

The Golden Rule always will apply in politics: They who have the Gold make the rules. Still is interesting all the data seems to show Biodiesel as a cleaner burning fuel. Also makes use of WVO, which would otherwise go to the landfill. With all of the pluses, as long as the methanol issue is dealt with, why mess with it?

 

Agreed. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease" also applies. Every time some "dim-wit" screws up and the public hears it and complains about it, the Gov will restrict it even more.

We, as producers of biodiesel ( in any amount), have the responsibility of working in a safe and environmentally NETURAL way. What I got from reading the new regs is glycerol WITH methanol will be treated as a hazardous waste, and glycerol with the Methanol REMOVED will not.

When you factor in that Methanol is our greatest cost, it just makes sense to RECOVER every bit we can to improve our bottom line AND avoid government regulation.

Be safe everyone...................

 

Well, those rules came from the non elected EPA, right?

Over 200 years ago, it was no taxation without representation. Now, we have laws and rules with no representation. Pretty much a difference of religion.

 

Have you started using the Zirconium?

 

Nope, it's on order, but hasn't arrived yet.

 

According to my limited personal experience and what I have been reading, can't you just heat your glycerol to about 170F to boil off any methanol that is left? It is the methanol that is toxic, not the glycerine. Glycerine is biodegradeable. I wonder if Oyster mushrooms like to grow on it and break it down....? I'll have to check it out.

 

This is exactly what you DO NOT want to do! Will it work? Yes. BUT IT'S STILL TOXIC!!

What's the difference weather you dump it on the ground, or evaporate it into the atmosphere? NOTHING! Your still polluting.

 

That makes sense. So I guess you recapture it in a still? I'm just curious, I don't brew it, I plan to run on straight WVO...
Is it legal to have a still if you register it as fuel producing?

 

There are several ways to recover the Methanol, using a still is one of them.

A Fed permit is not necessary to recover Methanol. A permit is only required for distilling Ethanol.