[Bioconversion] Use of Fats/Oils

[Gerald Comeau]

Dear Group,
   
  In 2002 I came upon the realization that the North American pulp and paper Industry were underutilizing the energy potential for lignin, and as Thomas Reed has said in his email to Paul and Aul, an understanding some basic chemistry is essential for a new generation of energy carriers from biomass to evolve.
   
  I quickly learned that I needed the help of a chemist to point the way for making better use of lignin.  I found the perfect person at U of Utah where the Institiute for Combustion and Energy Studies is located.  Under good guidance I spent a considerable amount of time teaching myself about the basis chemistry processes involved.    
   
  You would think my Utah colleague and I should have been a perfect team.  I have some practical background with development of biomass feedstocks and he has the technologies for gasification and catalytic conversion.  You would think that with a combination like this, at least one important project would have gotten off the ground.  Wrong!!  
   
  It looks like the time for nonsense is still with us, and believe me, I have seen tonnes of it during the past four years.  It's is still going to take some time before there can be some basic understanding of the chemistry involved  in complementing fossil fuels with biomass feedstocks; in finding willing and financially capable partners; and in implementing worhtwhile projects. 
   
  I learned first hand what Thomas Reed has just pointed out when he says chemsitry is the backbone of biomass to energy conversion.
   
  Gerald Comeau
   
   
Thomas Reed <tombreed at comcast.net> wrote:
  Dear Paul and Aul:

Chemistry is the backbone of fuels and there aren't many chemists on 
these lists. There are better feedstocks than sow's ears for making 
silk purses.

Oil is basically CH2 and great for many uses. Biodiesel is CH2O0.1, so 
is a diodegradable oil and is vauable as such. Silly to make it into 
methane, CH4.

Most biomass is mostly carbohydrate, CH2O. It is easily 
disproportionated according to

2 CH2O ==> CH4 + CO2

(which is why biogas is half CO2). 

So lets not hear anymore nonsense about converting fats to biogas.

TOM REED THE BIOMASS ENERGY 
FOUNDATION WOODGAS.COM
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Paul Harris wrote:
> G'day All,
>
> I think a change of topic really deserves a new Subject Line!
>
> Fats and oils are probably better used as biodiesel for transport fuels
> (which we are going to be MUCH shorter of soon!).
>
> I believe it is important to look at the "system" rather than a
> particular problem - we can get biogas (which is good for stationary use
> such as heat/light and pump motors etc) from a number of sources (often
> wastes) but liquid fuels for transport use are less available (unless
> you grow them specifically!).
>
> Minds are like parachutes - they only function when open (and are often
> only used in emergencies!).
>
> All the best,
> HOOROO
>
> Ken Boak wrote:
> 
>> Jeff,
>>
>> Thanks for the data.
>>
>> Can you explain how to produce biogas from waste veg oil and fat? Is there
>> a site that describes the process?
>>
>> regards,
>>
>> Ken Boak
>> 
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Gerald Comeau 
230 Carleton St., Apt. 1 
Fredericton 
New Brunswick 
Canada, E3A 3T6 

tel: (506)457-4177