Wanted: Glycerine By-Product

Introduction

Worldwide market for biodiesel is poised for explosive growth in the next decade. The sharp rise in biofuels has created an increasing supply of glycerol.

Glycerine also known as Glycerol has many commercial and industrial uses, and is generally considered a relatively valuable product. In order to both improve the economics of biodiesel production process and put this waste stream to good use, new markets must be found. There are several ways in which this might happen, but biodiesel producers need to make this a priority if they are to reap the benefits of this unused resource.

Biodiesel is a fast growing product in both the United States and Europe as government policies seek to spur the development of renewable transportation fuels. In the US alone since 2004, biodiesel production has grown from 75 million gallons per year to 650 million gallons per year in 2008 (Biodiesel 2020, 2008). While the production of biodiesel is beginning to have an effect on the liquid fuels market, it has already had an enormous effect on the market for another product, glycerol.

When bio-crude goes through the transesterification process to become biodiesel, a significant amount of glycerol is produced as a by-product of the chemical reaction. This transesterification process yields 100kg of glycerol for every metric tonne of biodiesel produced, a 10% yield (Glycerol Challenge, 2009). Total world biodiesel production in 2008 was estimated to be roughly 12.24 million metric tonnes, and this number is rapidly growing (Biodiesel 2020, 2008). This means that 1.224 million metric tonnes of crude glycerol was produced from the biodiesel conversion processes alone. The total world market for refined glycerol was estimated to be roughly 900,000 metric tonnes in 2005 (Impact of Biodiesel Production on the Glycerol Market, 2006). It is apparent that we are already facing a global glut of glycerol, a glut which is certain to worsen before it can improve.

Compare this market effect to the market for one of the major by-products of the distillation of ethanol from corn, dried distillers grains and solvents (DDGS). DDGS are commonly used in animal feeds around the world, and have select additional uses. With the recent ramping up in corn-based ethanol production throughout the world, mostly occurring in the U.S., DDGS stocks have risen sharply. However, looking at overall potential U.S. demand for DDGS, there seems to still be some room for market growth in this area, which will continue to keep the economics of ethanol more attractive until it hits this ceiling and DDGS prices begin to fall. The table attached below shows the global markets for both glycerol and DDGS (Christiansen, 2009). 

These estimates are a simplification, as the true markets are slightly different, but they depict the overall trend accurately. The crude glycerol market is tapped out at the moment, but not necessarily for the reasons that we might initially suppose.

Economic Factor 

This market glut has had a mixed effect on prices of glycerol worldwide depending upon whether one looks at the crude or refined product. Glycerol taken from the biodiesel production process is about 80% pure, whereas refined glycerol is at 99.5% purity, after undergoing a highly energy intensive refining process. With the rapid rise in the availability of crude glycerol worldwide due to biodiesel production, there has been a refining bottleneck, as current refineries have hit the limits of their capacity. As such, the prices for refined glycerol have not varied inversely with biodiesel production, as might be expected. Instead, prices halved between 2003 and 2006, while growing 69% between July 2007 and July 2008 as a result of other exogenous factors (Soyatech, 2008). Prices for crude glycerol, on the other hand, have fallen through the floor, dropping close to zero and even negative as producers are forced to pay to have it taken away from their plants and incinerated (Impact of Biodiesel Production on the Glycerol Market, 2006). This may only be a short term trend, however. Glycerol is not a waste product, and in fact has been a staple chemical compound in the world economy for many years. There is reason to believe that as refining capacity catches up to the supply of the crude product, and new uses for glycerol are found, its price may rebound, potentially improving the economics of biodiesel production.

Uses of Glyrecol 

Glycerol is used for a variety of purposes across many different industries. The following is a list of current uses of glycerol:

• Food – glycerol is used as an artificial sweetener, especially in low-fat foods, since it is better for blood pressure than sugar. It is also used as a thickening agent and an ester in shortenings and margarine. It also can be used as a substitute ingredient in animal feed.
• Basic Materials – Glycerol be used as a substitute for petroleum-based polypropelene, a textile, and in both rigid and flexible industrial foams. It is also used as a building block for many different kinds of industrial chemicals.
• Pharmaceuticals – Used as an additive in cough syrup, toothpaste, skin care, hair care soap and many others.
• Explosives – The compound nitroglycerin, made with glycerol, is commonly used in all types of explosives.
• Other – Used as an ingredient in antifreeze, hydraulic fluids, plasticizers (List assembled from many different sources)

While glycerol appears to be quite a versatile substance, one that might be able to withstand slack demand in any one or two categories, it is unclear whether any of these markets possess the necessary elasticity to soak up the extra supply due to biodiesel production. The falling price of crude glycerol could cause some glycerol-based products to substitute for other similar products derived from other sources, but this market shift is not guaranteed to happen, and its magnitude is impossible to predict. But the bottoming of the glycerol market has led to increasing focus on finding these substitutes.

Other Uses

Sheeps being fed Glycerine

  ->As Animal Feed

 

For instance, researchers at the University of Arkansas’ Center of Excellence for Poultry Science have initiated studies that substitute glycerol in chicken feed. The study showed that up to 5% substitution of glycerol in chicken feed showed no negative effects on growth. Given the immense volume of the global poultry feed market, not to mention the entire animal feed market, this is a huge potential growth area for refined glycerol. While this will not necessarily provide direct benefits to a biodiesel producer, since this application depends upon a low price of crude and refined glycerol, this does provide larger economic benefits to society.

-> Energy Feedstock

An even greater upside to the bottoming of glycerol prices has been exploration into its use as an energy feedstock for example as fuel for diesel engines. As reported in TCE magazine in an article "(E)mission Impossible" by Paul Day, John McNeil and Felix Sirovski. 

Problems with using it as a fuel in diesel engines: Glycerine seems to be barely combustible, too viscous and if combusted, produces lots of toxic acrolein which ends up clogging the exhaust with polymers. But these guys have an actual standard 40 kWh Deutz engine running on glycerine by just increasing both the inlet air temperature during engine operation from 60°C to 200°C and mass flow. This overcomes the problem glycerine poses on the diesel engine.

In fact, it was found that glycerine is a better fuel, Firstly because it is not toxic as mentioned before that it is used as a sweetener in liqueurs. Secondly, it is water soluble, easy to wash away if spilled. Thirdly, it is nearly impossible to ignite under normal conditions which gives it a two thumbs up for safety. As for Its viscosity, at 90°C, the viscosity drops dramatically to a level similar to fuel oil of 13 centistokes.

Compare glycerine to other fuels, its calorific value is not that high. Its a mere 16.2MJ/kg whilst diesel has 42MJ/kg and Biodiesel has 37.8MJ/kg. The comparison of prices does not look too bad, in fact, it could be relatively cheaper fuel especially with Renewable Obligation Certificates(ROC) in the UK and other Renewable commitments in Europe. 

Conclusion

The above post suggest that there is still potential for the economics of the biodiesel conversion process to improve if more markets can be found for crude and refined glycerol. This is a valuable and versatile feedstock with many different uses, not only for high-value uses, but also potentially as an energy feedstock which needs for research. It is important that biodiesel producers focus as much on their by-products are their core products if they seek to maximize the value and efficiency of the conversion process. Glycerol production is only going to increase, so it is important for us to find something useful to do with it.

Green School in Bali

Introduction
When i first heard of this "Green School" idea in Bali, i was skeptical and i have reasons to back me up on this. But first lets look at the concept and the listen to what John Hardy has to say about his dream of building a green school at Ted Talks.

This is an introduction to Green School in Bali, founded by John and Cynthia Hardy. The school is a non-profit organization funded by the Sustainable Educational Trust. The eight-hectare campus features a rigorous curriculum with an environmental focus in an entrepreneurial context. International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered. The school will be accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS)

The Issue With School Fees & Local Effect

The school fees they are charging at his "Green School" is too much, none of the local balinese children can actually attend this school. How is it benefiting the local community? 

Here's what a teacher from South Korea has to say:

Actually, for an international school running a foreign curriculum, Green School is pretty cheap. The international school in South Korea where I work charges $30,000USD a year for tuition, and many people here can afford it; we're full to bursting. Our tuition is standard for the country, and I'd imagine that Green School's tuition is reflective of international school tuition fees in Indonesia. As for cost, offten the company for whom the parents work pay students' tuition as part of their benefits package.

A lot of people on this board who are criticizing the school for not taking local Balinese children don't understand what an international school is. International schools are generally intended for children of ex-pats who are already in the country anyway, not for local children. Perhaps it works differently in Bali, but in South Korea the Korean government doesn't allow international schools to accept locals. Nor can our students matriculate to Korean universities; they have to go overseas.

Honestly, the fact that he's aiming for even that many Balinese students is pretty impressive from an international school perspective. However, I will add that Green School does not have a good reputation among international educators or among the international school circuit in Indonesia.

I think for this concept to benefit the balinese, it must be replicable on a local scale because Bali belongs to the Balinese, no question. I would not be surprised if people come to this conclusion that there is alot of exploitation for personal profit, thinly disguised as social altruism.

One thing is clear in my mind, bali doesn't need any more rich expats who are going there to live a western lifestyle where it's cheap and easy. but if they want to go there, live in a bamboo house (and are prepared to maintain it over the years), shit in a compost toilet, grow your own food and survive on a local wage, take part in ceremony and uphold balinese tradition, then i have nothing for you but respect.

Education Is Key to Sustainability

Education is very important and the greater impact can be achieved with children who are taught sound practices. This man, John Hardy, after all the criticism he might get has made more of an impact, teaching over a hundred kids the importance of sustainable living, creating a community of green, nurturing people whose goal is to remove their carbon footprint as best they can.


I cannot stress how important education is without an example from my own observations. In most developing countries such as India or Bangladesh, cooking gas (LPG) is very cheap. Often maids or cooks are hired by people for do their daily chores. Sometimes one household will have 2 or even 3 maids for a relatively well-to-do family because labour is also very cheap. I have observed countless number of times these maids/cooks leave the stove running for hours even if they're not cooking. Such wasteful practice, but it is because they've never been to schools, or even if they have been to one, never really had proper civic/moral education. A proper education will give someone at least a moral obligation to try and not waste energy unnecessarily.

Back to the topic of Green school,  they talk about "educating the whole child," Certainly, getting mud between toes and building a school that looks like summer camp will make many kids appreciate the experience more. 


Is Green School just an idealistic one-off project?? I am convinced that ideas from Green School is transferable because of the major concepts behind it. LEED building principles award points for innovation and the core categories focus on the environmental results rather than the methods used to get there, but nonetheless as green building has gone mainstream. we’ve limited ourselves to a toolbox of best practices and variations on the same themes of renewable energy, water conservation, reuse and other elements. 

The psychological and health effects of this school I image are great, between the organic foods, lack of toxics and access to fresh air and daylight. Lessons taught in the school – organic gardening, taking responsibility, are among the most valuable effects the Green School will have on the future. One question remains in my mind – how were the resources gathered to build this, and how do we secure resources to do this on a large scale? 


Maybe it should be something like this? the new School of the Arts in Singapore

Innovating to zero

At TED2010, Bill Gates unveiled his vision for the world's energy future, describing the need for "miracles" to avoid planetary catastrophe and explaining why he's backing a dramatically different type of nuclear reactor. The necessary goal? Zero carbon emissions globally by 2050.

Bill Gates - A passionate techie and a shrewd businessman, Bill Gates changed the world once, while leading Microsoft to dizzying success. Now he's set to do it again with his own style of philanthropy and passion for innovation.


Bill Gates is the founder and former CEO of Microsoft. A geek icon, tech visionary and business trailblazer, Gates' leadership -- fueled by his long-held dream that millions might realize their potential through great software -- made Microsoft a personal computing powerhouse and a trendsetter in the Internet dawn. Whether you're a suit, chef, quant, artist, media maven, nurse or gamer, you've probably used a Microsoft product today.

In summer of 2008, Gates left his day-to-day role with Microsoft to focus on philanthropy. Holding that all lives have equal value (no matter where they're being lived), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has now donated staggering sums to HIV/AIDS programs, libraries, agriculture research and disaster relief -- and offered vital guidance and creative funding to programs in global health and education. Gates believes his tech-centric strategy for giving will prove the killer app of planet Earth's next big upgrade.
In his second annual letter, released in late January 2010, Gates takes stock of his first full year with the Gates Foundation. Read Bill Gates' annual letter for 2010. And follow his ongoing thinking on his personal website, The Gates Notes.

"When Gates looks at the world, a world in which millions of preventable deaths occur each year, he sees an irrational, inefficient, broken system, an application that needs to be debugged. It shocks him -- his word -- that people don't see this, the same way it shocked him that nobody but he and [Paul] Allen saw the microchip for what it was." -Time