Description:
Biodiesel Technology Workshop

July 18-22, 2011

Ames, Iowa

This 5-day workshop format includes:

- business management for biodiesel producers
- biodiesel analytical methods
- biodiesel production technology

The class runs for five days starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. Participants receive copies of all the teaching materials and supplemental notes. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided. Refreshments will also be provided for mid-morning and afternoon breaks. Dinners are on your own although we will facilitate groups meeting to network.

What is the cost of the workshop? The cost is $1300 before June 27, and $1500 after that.

The classes are held in two locations, in Ames, Iowa. The Ames workshops are held at the Biomass Energy Conversion Center (BECON) of the Iowa Energy Center.

For more information and to register: http://www3.me.iastate.edu/biodiesel/

Instructors:
Jon Van Gerpen -- Professor of Mechanical Engineering, U of Idaho
Davis Clements -- Renewable Products Development Laboratory
Gerhard Knothe -- USDA/NCAUR
Brent Shanks -- Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, ISU
Rudy Pruszko -- Center for Industrial Research and Service, ISU

Schedule

Day 1
7:30 -- 8:00 Registration
8:00 -- 9:30 Introduction to Biodiesel
9:30 -- 9:45 Break/Video of biodiesel production
9:45 -- 11:15 Diesel engine fuel requirements and relevant fuel properties
11:15 -- 12:00 Diesel fuel specifications (ASTM D 975)
12:00 -- 1:00 Lunch
1:00 -- 1:30 Biodiesel specifications and properties (D 6751)
1:30 -- 3:15 Lab: Measurement of Physical Properties: specific gravity, viscosity, distillation, flashpoint, water & sediment, cloud pt., pour pt.
3:15 -- 4:15 Lab safety/right-to-know/MSDS
4:15 -- 5:00 Workplace and plant safety

Day 2
7:30 -- 8:45 Introduction to Organic Chemistry
8:45 -- 9:15 Introduction to Acids and Bases
9:15 -- 9:30 Break
9:30 -- 10:30 Types of biodiesel production processes
10:30 -- 11:00 Effect of process parameters
11:00 -- 12:00 Post--reaction processing -- glycerol removal, washing, drying, additization
12:00 -- 1:00 Lunch
1:00 -- 2:00 Treatment and recovery of sidestreams
2:00 -- 4:00 Lab: Alkaline Catalyzed Transesterification Pitfalls of biodiesel production
4:00 -- 5:00 Fatty acid composition and total glycerol

Day 3
7:30 -- 8:15 Identification of Markets
8:15 -- 9:00 Business Plans
9:00 -- 9:30 Site Selection
9:30 -- 9:45 Break
9:45 -- 10:30 Sensitivity Analysis
10:30 -- 11:00 Plant and Operational Cost
11:00 -- 11:30 Where to find Financing
11:30 -- 12:00 Environmental permitting
12:00 -- 1:00 Lunch
1:00 -- 1:30 Measurement of acid value, phosphorus, sulfur, ash
1:30 -- 2:00 Soap and catalyst measurement
2:00 -- 3:30 Lab: Measurement of acid value, pH, soap, cloud point, pour point
3:30 -- 4:15 Government incentive programs
4:15 -- 5:00 EPA Registration

Day 4
7:30 -- 9:00 Inventory and other management issues
9:00 -- 9:30 Discussion of early biodiesel patents
9:30 -- 9:45 Break
9:45 -- 10:45 Pretreatment of high FFA feedstocks
10:45 -- 11:30 Alternative feedstocks
11:30 -- 12:00 Feedstock acquisition
12:00 -- 1:00 Lunch
1:00 -- 2:00 Feedstock preparation, feedstock quality
2:00 -- 4:00 Lab: Acid catalyzed pretreatment of high FFA feedstocks
4:00 -- 4:30 Glycerol
4:30 -- 5:00 Fuel quality and accreditation

Day 5
7:30 -- 8:30 Basic plant equipment and operations
8:30 -- 9:00 Chemical plant controls
9:00 -- 9:30 Chemical plan instrumentation
9:30 -- 9:45 Break
9:45 -- 10:30 Catch up
10:30 -- 11:30 Transportation and storage
11:30 -- 12:00 Equipment and process planning
12:00 -- 1:00 Lunch
1:00 -- 2:00 Making a profit
2:00 -- 5:00 Lab: Total glycerol measurement demo + plant design for arbitrary feedstock