Kelapa Sawit (Elaeis)

Anti-cancer properties of palm oil

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:06:00 +0000

Epidemiological data suggest a link between fat quality (i.e. types of fatty acids consumed) and cancer. Animal experiments have shown that the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially those of the n-6 series derived from vegetable seed oils, have tumor promoting effects in mammary cancer models. Thus the fatty acids of palm oil attracted initial attention with regards to their ability to inhibit and/or delay experimental carcinogenesis. It was shown almost 15 years ago that palm oil did not promote mammary carcinogenesis in a rat model, primarily because it contained far less PUFA than corn oil.

Attention then shifted to the vitamin E content of palm oil when its was noted that palm oil stripped of its vitamin E content - promoted mammary carcinogenesis - just like other unsaturated fatty acid rich lipids. Furthermore, when the vitamin E fraction from palm oil was added back to a polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched diet, the "cancer" was inhibited. The vitamin E of palm oil, consists largely of tocotrienols, the remainder being a-tocopherol. (This fraction of palm oil is referred to as the tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) or Palm Vitee). TRF has been subsequently shown to inhibit the proliferation and growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro, whereas a-tocopherol was ineffective. The individual tocotrienols from the TRF were also found to inhibit the cancer cells. In a direct comparison between the individual isomers of tocopherols and tocotrienols, it was shown that the tocotrienols were more effective than the tocopherols.

Since these early studies there is now a reasonable and ever-growing body of scientific literature documenting the anti-cancer properties of the tocotrienols. Although various mechanisms have been postulated for how tocotrienols exert their effect (including their role in apoptosis) - the exact mechanism has yet to be detailed. Recent reports suggests that TRF's ability to inhibit cancer cell growth and promote apoptosis may be mediated via signaling pathways (e.g. caspase-8, p53). For a more detailed review of the anticancer properties of palm oil - please see (Sambanthamurthi et al, 2000)

References

2) Kritchevsky, D., Weber, M. M. and Klurfeld, D. M. (1992) Influence of different fats (soybean oil, palm olein or hydrogenated soybean oil) on chemically-induced mammary tumors in rats. Nutr. Res. 12: S175-A179.

3) Nesaretnam, K., Khor, H. T., Ganeson, J., Chong, Y. H., Sundram, K. and Gapor, A. (1992) The effect of vitamin E tocotrienols from palm oil on chemically-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female rats. Nutr. Res. 12: 63-75.

4) Carroll, K. K., Guthries, N., Neseratnam, K., Gapor, A. and Chambers, A. F. (1995) Anti-cancer properties of tocotrienols from palm oil. In: Nutrition, Lipids, Health and Disease (Ong, A. S. H., Niki, E. and Packer, L., eds.), pp117-121. AOCS Press, Champaign, IL.

Palm Oil as Biodiesel

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:21:00 +0000

Palm oil, like other vegetable oils can and is used to create biodiesel, which can be used as a replacement fuel for gasoline, diesel and LPG in internal combustion engines. Biodiesel is promoted as a form of renewable energy that greatly reduces net emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Therefore, until recently it was being touted as a way to decrease the impact of the greenhouse effect and also the possibility of peak oil. However, recent research has confirmed that the benefits of biofuels to counter global warming will be small if not unexistent.

Also, given the many problems that are inheritly linked to oil palm cultivation, research into different sources for the production of first generation biofuels has been done. The research conducted has yielded possible replacement candidats for palm oil (as jatropha), which are considered less damaging to the environment.

However, regardless of these new innovations, biodiesel production from palm oil is still globally catching on and will continue to increase. As such, several projects have been started in a number of countries around the world. A quick review:

Malaysia
The Malaysian government is refocusing the use of palm oil to the production of biodiesel to cater to the huge demand from European countries; it has encouraged the building of biodiesel plants. This is due to the higher prices of fuel and increasing demand for alternative sources of energy in the Western world.

The plants will start operating middle of next year and produce 100,000 tonnes of biodiesel annually. Strong demand for biodiesel from Europe as well as Colombia, India, South Korea and Turkey has fueled the industry's growth as more countries seek to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Malaysia has already begun preparations to change from diesel to bio-fuels by 2008, including drafting legislation that will make the switch mandatory. From 2007, all diesel sold in Malaysia must contain 5% palm oil. Being the world's largest producer of crude palm oil, Malaysia intends to take advantage of the rush to find cleaner fuels.

With the growing emphasis on biodiesels presenting a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels it is important to recognise that these benefits are partly negated when forest is cleared to make room for biodiesel crops such as oil palm. NGOs are now alerting the international arena to the fact that despite thousands of square kilometres of land standing unplanted in Indonesia there is still clearance of tropical hardwood forest for palm oil plantations. Furthermore, as the remaining unprotected lowland forest dwindles, developers are looking to peat swamp for conversion, which causes a draining of the peat, which not only unlocks the carbon in the surface covering of trees, but begins an oxidation process of the carbon in the peat reserve--which can be between 5,000 to 10,000 years worth of carbon locked into the ground. Drained peat is also at very high risk of forest fire, and there is a clear record of fire being used to clear vegetation for palm oil development in Indonesia.

Australia
On 23 Nov 2006 Australia's first palm oil based biodiesel plant was opened in Darwin. When fully operational in 2007 this plant should produce 140 million litres of biodiesel annually.

Health
Palm oil, despite being the most used vegetable oil for cooking (primarily because of its huge use in industrial food preparations), is one of the most unhealthy cooking oils available (after Coconut oil). Besides via the references, this information can also be derived from the table found at the cooking oil article, which gives the percentage of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Their heavy use nonetheless in the commercial food industry can thus only be explained by its comparatively low price, being one of the cheapest vegetable or cooking oils on the market. Given the unhealthyness as a cooking oil, consumers are best to avoid it and use an alternative, more healthy, cooking oil as canola oil, soy oil, ... (see also: Cooking_oil). This should be done when they eather prepare the food themselves or when they buy prepared foods. The latter however may not be simple as palm oil is described on food labels simply as "vegetable oil", instead of "palm oil".

Red palm oil, when compared to regular palm oil however, has found to be more healthy. This is a result of several mitigating substances found in the red palm oil which slightly reduce the unhealthyness of the saturated fats, also found in the reed palm oil. These compounds are:

* betacarotenes (present in higher amounts as in regular palm oil)
* tocotrienols
* co-enzyme Q10
* squalene and ubiquinone
* Vitamin A and Vitamin E .

Palm oil and the blood cholesterol controversy
For many years now, it has been established that the primary cholesterol-elevating fatty acids are the saturated fatty acids with 12 (lauric acid), 14 (myristic acid) and 16 (palmitic acid) carbon atoms with a concomitant increase in the risk of coronary heart disease. Monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid is as effective in reducing serum total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels as polyunsaturated fatty acids such as alpha-linoleic acid. The World Health Organization in its report states there is convincing evidence that palmitic oil consumption contributes to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Research in the US and Europe support the WHO report.

In a response to the report, the Malaysian Palm Oil Promotion Council cited a study in China comparing palm, soybean, peanut oils and lard (all of which contain saturated fat) showing that palm oil increased the levels of good cholesterol and reduced the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood (Dr. Koh Chu-Sing, Malaysian Palm Oil Promotion Council, citing Zhang, et al, 1995, 1997, 2006).

An older study by Hornstra in 1990 also supported the claims of the Malaysian Palm Oil Promotion Council.

A study by the Departments of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science and Medicine, University of Alberta showed palmitic acid to have no hypercholesterolaemic effect if intake of linoleic acid was greater than 4.5% of energy, but that if the diet contained trans fatty acids, LDL cholesterol increases and HDL cholesterol decreases.

The studies supporting the Malaysian Palm Oil Promotion Council only addressed the issue of the effect of palm oil on blood cholesterol levels and not its total effect regarding cardiovascular diseases.

Ecological impacts of oil palm

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:20:00 +0000

Indonesia and Malaysia have, concomitant with the destruction of enormous tracts of tropical rainforest, some of the world's longest lists of threatened wildlife. Of the more than 400 land mammal species of Indonesia, 15 are critically endangered and another 125 threatened. Of Malaysia's nearly 300 land mammal species, 6 are critically endangered and 41 threatened. The numbers of threatened species climb higher when terrestrial reptiles, amphibians, and birds are included. Moreover, certain animals, such as the orangutan, are only found in these countries; when their rainforest habitat vanishes, so will they.

Five mammals exemplify the impending disaster: the Sumatran tiger, Sumatran and Bornean orangutans, Asian elephant, and Sumatran rhinoceros. Each of those species is endangered, with the three eponymous Sumatran species critically endangered. They once flourished in precisely those areas where rainforests have since been cleared for oil palm.

Oil palm plantations, along with logging, fires, and other factors, destroy rainforest habitat, hinder migration patterns, and block travel corridors. Roads and plantations fragment the rainforest, facilitate encroaching settlements, and make animals accessible to illegal hunting and poaching. If they enter plantations while searching for food outside the rainforest, animals may be killed by workers. They are also at risk when plantation companies set forest fires to clear land for oil palm; some fires burn out of control, demolishing much larger areas than anticipated.

Plantations also pollute the soil and water with pesticides and untreated palm oil-mill effluent, cause soil erosion and increased sedimentation in rivers, and cause air pollution due to forest fires.

The demand for palm oil is forecast to double by 2020. To achieve that production increase, 1,160 new square miles will have to be planted every year for 20 years. Indonesia has 26,300 square miles more forest land officially allocated for new oil palm plantations; Malaysia has almost 3,000 square miles more. The expected thousands of square miles of new plantings on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo could kill off the remaining orangutans, rhinos, and tigers.

Technical standards biodiesel

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:18:00 +0000

The common international standard for biodiesel is EN 14214.

There are additional national specifications. ASTM D 6751 is the most common standard referenced in the United States and Canada. In Germany, the requirements for biodiesel are fixed in the DIN EN 14214 standard and in the UK the requirements for biodiesel is fixed in the BS EN 14214 standard, although these last two standards are essentially the same as EN 14214 and are just prefixed with the respective national standards institution codes. There are standards for three different varieties of biodiesel, which are made of different oils:

* RME (rapeseed methyl ester, according to DIN E 51606)
* PME (vegetable methyl ester, purely vegetable products, according to DIN E 51606)
* FME (fat methyl ester, vegetable and animal products, according to DIN V 51606)

The standards ensure that the following important factors in the fuel production process are satisfied:

* Complete reaction.
* Removal of glycerin.
* Removal of catalyst.
* Removal of alcohol.
* Absence of free fatty acids.
* Low sulfur content.

Basic industrial tests to determine whether the products conform to the standards typically include gas chromatography, a test that verifies only the more important of the variables above. Tests that are more complete are more expensive. Fuel meeting the quality standards is very non-toxic, with a toxicity rating (LD50) of greater than 50 mL/kg.

Applications Biodiesel

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:13:00 +0000

Biodiesel can be used in pure form (B100) or may be blended with petroleum diesel at any concentration in most modern diesel engines. Biodiesel will degrade natural rubber gaskets and hoses in vehicles (mostly found in vehicles manufactured before 1992), although these tend to wear out naturally and most likely will have already been replaced with FKM, which is nonreactive to biodiesel. However, this is more likely to occur where methanol used to catalyse the transesterification process has not been properly removed afterwards.

Biodiesel's higher lubricity index compared to petrodiesel is an advantage and can contribute to longer fuel injector life. Biodiesel is a better solvent than petrodiesel, and has been known to break down deposits of residue in the fuel lines of vehicles that have previously been run on petrodiesel. As a result, fuel filters and injectors may become clogged with particulates if a quick transition to pure biodiesel is made, as biodiesel “cleans” the engine in the process. Therefore, it is recommended to change the fuel filter within 600–800 miles after first switching to a biodiesel blend.

Use
Pure, non-blended biodiesel can be poured straight into the tank of any diesel vehicle. As with normal diesel, low-temperature biodiesel is sold during winter months to prevent viscosity problems. Some older diesel engines still have natural rubber parts which will be affected by biodiesel, but in practice these rubber parts should have been replaced long ago. Biodiesel is used by millions of car owners in Europe (particularly Germany).

Research sponsored by petroleum producers has found petroleum diesel better for car engines than biodiesel. This has been disputed by independent bodies, including for example the Volkswagen environmental awareness division, who note that biodiesel reduces engine wear. Pure biodiesel produced 'at home' is in use by thousands of drivers who have not experienced failure, however, the fact remains that biodiesel has been widely available at gas stations for less than a decade, and will hence carry more risk than older fuels. Biodiesel sold publicly is held to high standards set by national standards bodies.

Gelling
The temperature at which pure (B100) biodiesel starts to gel varies significantly and depends upon the mix of esters and therefore the feedstock oil used to produce the biodiesel. For example, biodiesel produced from low erucic acid varieties of canola seed (RME) starts to gel at approximately −10 °C (14 °F). Biodiesel produced from tallow tends to gel at around +16 °C (68 °F). As of 2006, there are a very limited number of products that will significantly lower the gel point of straight biodiesel. A number of studies have shown that winter operation is possible with biodiesel blended with other fuel oils including #2 low sulfur diesel fuel and #1 diesel / kerosene. The exact blend depends on the operating environment: successful operations have run using a 65% LS #2, 30% K #1, and 5% bio blend. Other areas have run a 70% Low Sulfur #2, 20% Kerosene #1, and 10% bio blend or an 80% K#1, and 20% biodiesel blend. According to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel) does not need any treatment in addition to what is already taken with petrodiesel.

Some people modify their vehicles to permit the use of biodiesel without mixing and without the possibility of gelling at low temperatures. This practice is similar to the one used for running straight vegetable oil. They install a second fuel tank (some models of trucks have two tanks already). This second fuel tank is insulated and a heating coil using engine coolant is run through the tank. There is then a temperature sensor installed to notify the driver when the fuel is warm enough to burn, the driver then switches which tank the engine is drawing from.

Biodiesel may contain small but problematic quantities of water. Although it is hydrophobic (non-miscible with water molecules), it is said to be, at the same time, hygroscopic to the point of attracting water molecules from atmospheric moisture; in addition, there may be water that is residual to processing or resulting from storage tank condensation. The presence of water is a problem because:

Water reduces the heat of combustion of the bulk fuel. This means more smoke, harder starting, less power.
Water causes corrosion of vital fuel system components: fuel pumps, injector pumps, fuel lines, etc.
Water freezes to form ice crystals near 0 °C (32 °F). These crystals provide sites for nucleation and accelerate the gelling of the residual fuel.
Water accelerates the growth of microbe colonies, which can plug up a fuel system. Biodiesel users who have heated fuel tanks therefore face a year-round microbe problem.

Previously, the amount of water contaminating biodiesel has been difficult to measure by taking samples, since water and oil separate. However, it is now possible to measure the water content using water in oil sensors.

Heating applications
Biodiesel can also be used as a heating fuel in domestic and commercial boilers. A technical research paper published in the UK by the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering entitled "Biodiesel Heating Oil: Sustainable Heating for the future" by Andrew J. Robertson describes laboratory research and field trials project using pure biodiesel and biodiesel blends as a heating fuel in oil fired boilers. During the Biodiesel Expo 2006 in the UK, Andrew J. Robertson presented his biodiesel heating oil research from his technical paper and suggested that B20 biodiesel could reduce UK household CO2 emissions by 1.5 million tonnes per year and would only require around 330,000 hectares of arable land for the required biodiesel for the UK heating oil sector. The paper also suggests that existing oil boilers can easily and cheaply be converted to biodiesel if B20 biodiesel is used.

Elaeis Product Information

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:05:00 +0000

Palm oil has been used as both a food and a medicine for thousands of years. It was prized by the pharaohs of ancient Egypt as a sacrad food. In tropical Africa and Southeast Asia it is an integral part of a healthy diet just as olive oil is in the Mediterranean. Palm oil possesses excellent cooking properties. It is more heat stable than other vegetable oils and imparts in foods and baked goods superior taste, texture, and quality. Palm oil is one of the world's healthiest oils. As a natural vegetable oil, it contains no trans fatty acids or cholesterol. It is currently being used by doctors and government agencies to treat specific illnesses and improve nutritional status. Recent medical studies have shown that palm oil, particularly virgin (red) palm oil, can protect against many common healthy problems.

Palm oil is the most important food oil in the world in terms of the human diet. Wherever red palm fruit is used the people are generally in better health and there is generally no vitamin A deficiency. The fruit of the red palm is really a wonderful foodstuff

Elaeis Organic Virgin Red Palm Fruit Oil

Elaeis Virgin Red Palm Oil 100% Certified Organic is a sustainable, healthy product of optimal freshness, quality and purity.

Quality
Elaeis Organic Virgin Red Palm Oil is 100% Certified Organic by the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA). Organic Certification guarantees that No pesticides, chemicals or artificial fertilizers are used in the growing, production, packaging and storage of the oil, making it a truly pristine and healthy product.

Elaeis Organic Virgin Red Palm Oil is Non refined, Bleached or Deodorized. It is completely Free of GMO ingredients, contains No Trans Fat, contains No Cholesterol and is a Non Hydrogenated Oil.

Freshness
Elaeis Organic Virgin Red Palm Oil is a unique product in that it is processed by a patented method called “Fresh Press”. “Fresh Press” means that Elaeis Virgin Red Palm Oil is processed up to 10 times faster than standard palm fruit oil to ensure the preservation of the oils natural goodness and quality. Expeller pressing, the chosen method of extraction used to protect the freshness and quality of edible oils, is used to extract the oil from the palm fruit.

Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and Price

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:44:00 +0000

Date & Venue

Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and Price Outlook 2009 will be held on 3 – 4 December 2008 at the Bali International Convention Center Westin Resort, Nusa Dua, Bali.

The Program

There are four main activities to be held at the Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and Price Outlook 2009, which are available for corporate as well as for individual participants: the Conference, Exhibition, Golf Tournament and Sponsorship.

* Conference

Distinguished speakers from UK, Germany, India, China, Malaysia as well as Indonesia, representing world renowned palm oil and vegetable oil experts, important consumers and main producers, will present their views and prediction for the palm oil market and price development in the future.

* Exhibition

Limited numbers of exhibition booths are available for corporate, associations and institutions. With more than six hundred participants from various countries, the exhibition will undoubtedly become an excellent opportunity to create public awareness and positive image as well as meeting your stakeholders.

* Social Function

As an icebreaker and get away from a restless day after the conference, social function will be held as a medium for all conference participants to get together and develop business networks in a more relaxed environment. A selection of snacks and beverages along with light entertainment will be set up to enhance the friendly and fun atmosphere.

* GAPKI Golf Tournament

With the spirit of working hard and play hard, a golf tournament will be held the day before the Conference at the New Kuta Golf and Ocean View (Kawasan Pecatu Indah Resort). This is also an excellent opportunity to get to better acquaint yourself with other participants in a scenic course, while appealing door prizes are provided for the golf participants.

* Sponsorship

With the present of participants coming from all sectors of palm oil industry from more than 12 countries, as well as an integrated publicity and promotion designed by GAPKI, your corporate identity will be exposed and noticeable widely by participating as sponsors. Please contact the Secretariat for further details.

Come and join this prestigious conference and feel the magic of the island of gods!

See you in Bali!

http://www.gapki.org

CPO price to rise

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:00:00 +0000

A world leading vegetable oil manufacturer predicts the price of crude palm oil (CPO) will rise throughout the year and into 2009 on consistently growing supply and demand.

Director of India's Godrej International Limited, Dorab E. Mistry, said the price of CPO would increase from the current US$1,181 (Rp 11 million) per ton to $1,243 by the end of June and that the price would continue to rise through the end of 2008.

"At some stage between September 2008 and February 2009, bleached and deodorized Palm Oil (a product of CPO) will go to up to $1,398," Dorab said after the closing of the world palm oil summit and exhibition in Jakarta on Friday.

As of last month, the average international price of CPO was $1,158 per ton. In 2007, the price averaged $780 per ton, or nearly double 2006's $477 per ton.

Dorab said worldwide CPO production would rise by 4 million tons this year as the commodity continued to attract new investors, and that a September production peak would see prices rise further.

He said Indonesia, the world's largest CPO producer, would account for at least 85 percent of global production next year, while this year the country accounts for 45.2 percent, with Malaysia the second largest with 42 percent.

He said China and India would continue to increase demand for the product. China's CPO imports grew 26 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and India's by 17 percent in the same period.

"The demand from Europe and the U.S., meanwhile, will be driven by a growing need for biodiesel, which will grow from 1 million to 1.5 million tons this year," he said, adding that his predictions depended on increasing CPO prices, which another expert said were set to collapse.

James Fry, managing director of LMC International Ltd., said CPO prices would fall on a decline in the price of crude oil, which he also predicted.

"Much of the demand for biodiesel is tied to fuel prices via biodiesel incentives... such as the U.S.' $1 per gallon credit," James said, referring to a U.S. policy on subsidizing biodiesel producers at a rate of $1 per gallon of vegetable oil blended with fossil fuels.

James said fuel prices would then decrease due to ample oil reserves.

The United States recently boosted its reserves from 540 million barrels to 702.7 million barrels. In May, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries promised to increase production by 300,000 barrels per day.

http://www.thejakartapost.com

CPO prices

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:56:00 +0000

The average price of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) next year is expected to stay at US$360 per ton due to higher global demand. CPO is seen to be healthier than other edible oils and is needed for biodiesel as an alternative to fossil fuel, local association said.

""Based on the 10-year cycle, CPO prices should have reached their decade-long peak last year and should fall drastically this year and next year. Apparently, this will not be the case for now,"" Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) chairman Derom Bangun said on Tuesday.

CPO prices reached their decade-long peak to average $430 per ton last year, while the average price over the first six months of this year was $360 per ton, Derom told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop titled ""Preventing and tackling forest and cultivated land fires"".

Derom said increasing global demand would enable Indonesia's CPO exports to rise to 9.6 million tons this year from last year's 8.7 million tons.

He was optimistic that demand for CPO would increase as consumers would turn to palm oil-based food products as other hydrogenated edible oils, such as soybean, sunflower and canolla oils, contained Trans Fatty Acid (TFA), believed to be bad for the heart.

""Starting Jan. 1, 2006, the U.S. will require every food manufacturer to state TFA level in each of their products,"" Derom said, adding that once the U.S. applied such a policy, other countries would eventually follow suit.

Moreover, global oil prices, which are hovering near $70 per barrel, have prompted higher demand for edible oils as biofuel and biodiesel to serve as alternatives to pricey fossil fuels, he said.

""Several European countries have started to provide tax incentives for industries importing edible oil, which is cleaner and help conserves the environment,"" he said.

He added a number of firms had shown an interest in importing more palm oil.

Commenting on India's latest move to cut the benchmark import price for CPO and palmolein, Derom said he expected Indonesia's exports to increase by 10 percent from an average of 200,000 tons per month.

Indonesia last year exported 2.7 million tons of CPO and palmolein, of which 1.9 million tons was CPO.

India, Asia's second largest vegetable oil importer, cut its benchmark CPO import price by $26 a ton to $397 and crude palmolein import price by $18 a ton to $414, the Solvent Extractors' Association of India said earlier.

The cut will effectively lower import duties on the product making shipments cheaper from Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's biggest producers of the cooking oil.

Output from the two countries is expected to make up about 85 percent of this year's global palm oil production.

http://www.thejakartapost.com

ELAEIS GUINEENSIS

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:34:00 +0000

Synonym

Elaeis melanococca.

Common name
Obé palm, African oil palm, Corojo de Guinea, Palma Africana, Palma de aceite, Palma oleaginosa Africana, You zong, Macaw fat, Palmier à huile, Palmier à huile d'Afrique, Ölpalme, Steinfrüchte, wild oil palm.

Family
Palmae (Arecaceae).

Overview
A solitary palm with an erect stem growing up to 55' tall; it has an irregular set of leaflets.
Leaves are pinnate, 4 - 5 m long, bearing 50-60 lanceolate pointed segments.
Although it is ringed; there are no spines except for short spines on the leaf base and within the fruit bunch; it also lacks a crown shaft.
The cream colored male - and female inflorescences come from among the leaves. They are densely packed with the fruit - bunches.
The fruit takes about six months to mature from the pollination to maturity.
The weight varies from a few pounds to about 220 pound, according to age and situation.
However, in adults plantations mean weights are 22 - to 66 lb.
There is also a great variety of hermaphrodite or mixed inflorescences formed.
The fruit, a sessile drupe, is black when green, orange-red when ripe. The fruits are like plums, 1-1½" long, avoid in shape and reddish of color.
In Surinam it is grown commercially for the production of palm kernel oil.
The palm oil (a high acidity oil) is extracted from the mesocarp, while the kernel oil (prime oil) comes from the inside of the seeds.
The oil is rich in carotene and can be used as a substitute for cod liver oil in correcting Vitamin A deficiency.
The oils are used for manufacturing of edible oil and margarine, while the fatty acids are used in the manufacturing of soap.
The oil is today also utilized in the production of biodiesel since it has the highest oil content of any fruit.
Palm kernel oil extracted from the kernel, contains about 50% oil.
There are many other nutritional effects of palm oil; palm oil causes a progressive decrease in plasma cholesterol, anti-Thrombotic shows a reduced tendency for blood to clot.
Palm oil is a natural source of Vitamin E (tocopherols, and tocotrienols).

Medicinal applications
The oil is used against headaches and rheumatism.
It is also used as a diuretic and anodyne.

Hardiness
USDA zone 9B - 11.

Propagation
Seeds.

Culture
Full sun, well drained, clay - to poor soils; needs high humidity.
Can withstand short spells if light frost.
The seeds can take up to six month to germinate; it may help to crack, the seeds to speed-up germination.

http://www.tropilab.com/obe.html

What is Palm Oil Biodiesel?

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:12:00 +0000

Palm Oil Biodiesel is an environmentally- friendly, renewable energy source that could also produce cost savings for taxpayers and private businesses and is produced from palm trees.

The Palm Oil that is "harvested" and produced from palm trees is referred to as "Crude Palm Oil." The crude palm oil is then shipped to be refined by a palm oil refinery. The output is then referred to as Refined Palm Oil which is then suitable to be used as a biodiesel fuel, or blended with petroleum diesel.

Palm oil with an estimated global (annual) production of 25-27 million tons, is the second most produced oil in the world. By country, the leading producers of palm oil are Malaysia (13 million tons) and Indonesia (10 million tons), and together they have provided about 80% to 90% of the world's palm oil.

Approximately 80% (21-23 million tons) of the global production of palm oil is exported to other countries. Malaysia exports about 12 million tons annually and Indonesia exports about 7 million tons annually to the major importers of palm oil, which include; India, China and the European Union.

More about Palm Oil

Crude Palm Oil and Refined Palm Oil are the most traded vegetable oil in the world today. Palm oils have been as a dietary nutrient for nearly five thousand years. Palm oil is harvested from the mesocarp of the Elaeis guineensis fruit, through a refining process that includes; cooking, mashing and pressing. In this process, the seeds are separated and after cracking and removing the shell, the kernel can be processed to yield palm kernel oil and palm kernel cake.

Palm trees are "unisexual" in that they have male and female flowers within the tree. The female flowers bears fruit known as "fresh fruit bunches" or "FFB." Each palm tree is capable of bearing about 10 to 12 bunches per year. Each FFB averages 1000 to 3000 fruits with weights varying between 40 to 70 pounds.

Crude palm oil - also referred to as "CPO" comes from the mesocarp (the fleshy portion of the fruit wall) and depending on the variety and age of the palm. The CPO to bunch ratio is about 25 to 28 percent.

Refined palm oil - after crude palm oil is refined, it is then referred to as Refined Palm Oil, and can then be used in a number of applications, including as a substitute for petroleum diesel - which is known as Palm Oil Biodiesel. Additionally, Palm Oil Biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel. What is Canola Biodiesel?

Canola biodiesel is an environmentally- friendly, renewable energy source that could also produce cost savings for taxpayers and private businesses and is produced from farmers that grow canola.

Biodiesel produced from canola and rapeseed oil is superior to soy biodiesel. Especially due to the widely varying price fluctuations of soybeans. And because the feedstock (the oil produced from the fuel crop, such as soybeans, rapeseed or canola) to make biodiesel makes up about 80% of the cost for 100 % biodiesel, basic economics dictate that the feedstock be obtained from the least-cost source, which is going to be either canola or rapeseed.

Initial research conducted by the University of Saskatchewan and the AAFC Saskatoon Research Centre has found that each ton of renewable biodiesel fuel saves five times its weight in diesel fuel. As well, engines using biodiesel demonstrate wear rates as much as 50% lower than those using regular commercial fuels – effectively doubling engine life.

Canola is a member of the Brassica Family, which includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, radish, and turnip. It is a variant of the crop rapeseed. Grown for its seed, the seed is crushed for the oil contained within. After the oil is extracted, the by-product is a protein-richmeal used by the intensive livestock industry.

Canola is a very small seed, which means sowing depth must be controlled. The current sowing practice is to cover the seed lightly with soil, which provides more protection from drying out after germination.

Canola is generally sown in autumn and develops over winter, with flowers emerging in the spring and is harvested early summer. With a growing period of around 180-200 days climatic effects such as sudden heat waves can reduce yields and hot dry conditions can limit its oil content. Summer weather ensures low moisture (less than 6%) at harvest. Carry-in stocks of canola are minimal because of a lack of on-farm storage. Canola is a good rotational crop, acting as a break crop for cereal root diseases. However for disease-related reasons, a rotation period of 3-5 years is required for canola crops. of iodine in grams absorbed per 100 ml of oil is then the IV. The higher the IV, the more unsaturated (the greater the number of double bonds available) is the oil and the higher the potential to ‘gum up’ when used as a fuel in an engine. Though some oils have a low IV and are suitable without any further processing other than extraction and filtering, the majority of vegetable and animal oils have an IV which does not permit their use as a neat fuel.

Generally speaking, an IV of less than about 25 is required if the neat oil is to be used in unmodified diesel engines and this severely limited the types of oil that can be used.

The IV can be easily reduced by hydrogenation of the oil (reacting the oil with hydrogen), the hydrogen breaking the double bond and converting the fat or oil into a more saturated oil and reducing the tendency of the oil to polymerise. However this process also tends to increase the melting point of the oil and converts the oil into margarine. Only coconut oil has an IV low enough to be used without any special precautions in a unmodified diesel engine. However with a melting point of 25°C, the use of coconut oil in cooler areas would obviously lead to problems.

Linseed oil could be mixed with petroleum diesel at a ratio of up to 1:8 to give an equivalent IV in the mid-twenties. Likewise coconut oil can be thinned with diesel or kerosene to render it less viscous in cooler climates. Obviously the solubility of the oil in petroleum also needs to be taken into account. Another method is to emulsify the oil or fat with ethanol. Most vegetable oils are a mixture of different esters such as oleic acid (main constituent of olive oil), ricinoleic acid (main constituent of castor oil), linoleic acid (main constituents of linseed oil), palmitic acid (main constituent of palm kernel oil) and so on. In an analogous way to that in which crude oil is refined to make a useable automotive fuel, canola oil needs to be transesterified to make an automotive fuel that is useable in unmodified diesel engines.

When the oil is processed in a transesterfication process, the various fatty acids react with the alcohol to form a mixture of lighter esters and glycerol. The name of the specific fuel is called after the plant (or animal) source plus the alcohol. Made from rapeseed oil and methanol, the biodiesel is called Rape Methyl Ester (RME), from canola oil and ethanol, Canola Ethyl Ester (CEE), and from used McDonald’s cooking oil and ethanol or methanol, ("McDiesel").

http://www.cogeneration.net/palm_oil_biodiesel.htm

What is biodiesel ?

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:08:00 +0000

Biodiesel is an environmentally- friendly, renewable energy source that could also produce cost savings for taxpayers and private businesses and is produced from farmers that grow various fuel crops.

What is B2 Biodiesel?

Pure biodiesel or B100 Biodiesel, is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, home-grown fuel that replaces petroleum diesel. When blended with equal parts of B100 biodiesel, creates B50 biodiesel, or 50% biodiesel and 50% petroleum diesel. Therefore, B2 Biodiesel, is comprised of a "blend" of 2% Biodiesel and 98% petroleum diesel.

What is B5 Biodiesel?

Pure biodiesel or B100 Biodiesel, is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, home-grown fuel that replaces petroleum diesel. When blended with equal parts of B100 biodiesel, creates B50 biodiesel, or 50% biodiesel and 50% petroleum diesel. Therefore, B5 Biodiesel, is comprised of a "blend" of 5% Biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel.

What is B10 Biodiesel?

Pure biodiesel or B100 Biodiesel, is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, domestic fuel that when blended with 9 parts petroleum diesel to one part biodiesel creates B10 biodiesel, or 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel.

What is B20 Biodiesel?

B20 Biodiesel is one the most popular biodiesel blends presently available thoughout much of the U.S., Canada and Europe. Pure biodiesel or B100 Biodiesel, is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, domestic fuel that when mixed with four parts petroleum diesel to one part biodiesel creates B20 biodiesel, or 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel.

What is B50 Biodiesel?

Pure biodiesel or B100 Biodiesel, is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, domestic petroleum diesel when blended with equal parts of B100 biodiesel creates B50 biodiesel, or 50% biodiesel and 50% petroleum diesel.

What is B95 Biodiesel?

Pure biodiesel or B100 Biodiesel, is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, home-grown fuel that replaces petroleum diesel. When blended with equal parts of B100 biodiesel, creates B50 biodiesel, or 50% biodiesel and 50% petroleum diesel. Therefore, B95 Biodiesel, is comprised of a "blend" of 95% Biodiesel and 5% petroleum diesel.

What is B99 Biodiesel?

Pure biodiesel or B100 Biodiesel, is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, home-grown fuel that replaces petroleum diesel. When blended with equal parts of B100 biodiesel, creates B50 biodiesel, or 50% biodiesel and 50% petroleum diesel. Therefore, B99 Biodiesel, is comprised of a "blend" of 99% Biodiesel and 1% petroleum diesel.

What is B100 Biodiesel?

Pure biodiesel is referred to as B100 Biodiesel, which is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, domestically "grown" biofuel. B100 Biodiesel is refined from many American-grown fuel/energy crops such as soybeans, canola, rapeseed and even palm trees.

Can B20 Biodiesel cause, or prevent problems for my diesel engine?

This depends on the age of the car. Biodiesel is a solvent and may affect some seals, gaskets, and adhesives, particularly those made before 1993 and those made from natural or nitrile rubber. Most diesel engines manufactured after 1994 have been constructed with gaskets and seals that are biodiesel resistant. Earlier engine models or rebuilds may use older gasket and seal materials and present a risk of swelling, leaking, or failure. Fuel pumps may contain rubber valves that may fail. B20 Biodiesel cleans dirty engine deposits, which may result in you needing an initial fuel filter change. B20 Biodiesel fuel is being widely used in various areas around the United States and Canada. Its production and distribution is expanding rapidly throughout the U.S. and Canada. Now that B20 Biodiesel has been gaining wide-spread distribution and popularity, questions are being asked for which some of the more common questions are answered below.

Does B20 Biodiesel perform as well as regular petroleum diesel?

Yes! In most cases you will not be unable to tell the difference between the two fuels, although some notice the diesel exhaust lightening in color due to the reduced emissions. B20 Biodiesel can be used in existing engines and fuel injection equipment with little impact to operating performance. In more than 30 million miles of in-field demonstrations, B20 has produced similar fuel consumption, horsepower, torque, and haulage rates as conventional diesel fuel. B20 Biodiesel also has superior lubricity, which helps prevent engine wear, plus it has a higher cetane number than U.S. diesel fuel, which classifies B20 as a premium grade fuel.

How does B20 Biodiesel fuel get shipped and distributed?

B20 Biodiesel is shipped throughout the U.S. and Canada as B100 Biodiesel. Once it arrives in at our partner company's bulk fuel facilities, it is mixed in various ratios of between 20%-80% with petroleum diesel. To produce B20 Biodiesel, we blend one part of B100 Biodiesel with 4 parts of petroleum diesel. The blended B20 Biodiesel is then delivered to our fuel users and public sales points throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Can I use B20 Biodiesel during the winter and long periods of cold weather?

Yes! In fact, B20 Biodiesel has almost the same cold weather properties as regular petroleum diesel. B20 Biodiesel is used throughout the U.S. National Parks Services, including cold-weather climates such as Yellowstone National Park, without any problems or complaints.

source:http://www.cogeneration.net/palm_oil_biodiesel.htm

How about Margarine

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:13:00 +0000

Margarines were originally developed in 1869 as an alternative to butter, which was in short supply and expensive. The first margarines were made from animal fats, but today most margarine is formulated with vegetable oils. The product range now includes table margarines, bakery margarines, specialized puff pastry margarine, and has recently been extended to various "low calorie" spreads, which essentially contain much higher levels of water and lower levels of fat than those legally required in margarine.

1. Why is margarine the country’s most popular tablespread?

Americans eat more than twice as much margarine products as they do butter. The reason could be margarine’s taste, versatility, spreadability or reasonable price -- but more healthful eating is the most important reason. Because health experts recommend a diet lower in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol to reduce the risk of heart disease, margarine consumption has become a key part of dietary recommendations made by leading health organizations.

2. Why are margarine products sensible alternatives to butter?

Margarine products are a wise alternative for consumers who want a tasty tablespread that offers nutritional advantages over butter. In addition, margarine products contain no cholesterol and 0-2 grams of saturated fat Many margarine products are much lower in total fat and calories than butter. Not only are margarine products a good source of vitamins A and E, they also contain mono- and poly-unsaturated fats as well as linoleic and linolenic acids, both of which are essential fatty acids.

3. Is it better to eat butter than margarine because of the trans fat? *

No. Although some margarines contain more trans fat than butter, the total of trans and saturated fat (the LDL-C raising fats) is always less than the total for butter. The total for butter is much higher because of all the saturated fat that it contains. The chart below shows you the comparisons of the content of these types of fats in butter and in some margarines. It is usually better to eat the softer or liquid margarines that contain lower amounts of saturated and trans fats. Also, nonstick cooking spray may be substituted for other fats when "greasing" the pan. The following information is from the most recently available 1995 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and FDA data. Since that time, the margarine industry has reformulated many margarine products to reduce the total fat, saturated fat and trans fat content.

4. How can consumers be assured that it’s OK to eat margarine?

Consumers should listen to the advice of leading health authorities such as the American Heart Association, the National Cholesterol Education Program, the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Dietetic Association – all of these organizations stress the need to reduce total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet. For heart health, leading health groups recommend margarine over butter because margarine has no cholesterol and much less saturated fat, and many margarine products have less total fat, trans fat and calories as well. These organizations also stress that consumers are still eating way too much saturated fat, and that should be the primary focus of any diet designed to reduce heart disease risk.

5. What is the bottom line on trans fat and margarine?

When it comes to overall nutrition, even the more traditional margarine products (those that have 60% or more oil) have a better nutritional profile than butter (even when trans fat is added to the amount of saturated fat). This can be illustrated if one were to add up the amount of trans fat and the amount of saturated fat in each of these products. Even if trans fats do act similarly to saturated fat, margarine wins nutritionally each and every time, and the reduced-fat, low-fat and fat-free margarine products also provide consumers the opportunity to reduce saturated fat and trans fat even further.

source: http://www.choosemargarine.com/faq.html

Biomass Energy

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:37:00 +0000

Biomass is matter usually thought of as garbage. Some of it is just stuff lying around -- dead trees, tree branches, yard clippings, left-over crops, wood chips (like in the picture to the right), and bark and sawdust from lumber mills. It can even include used tires and livestock manure.

Your trash, paper products that can't be recycled into other paper products, and other household waste are normally sent to the dump. Your trash contains some types of biomass that can be reused. Recycling biomass for fuel and other uses cuts down on the need for "landfills" to hold garbage.

This stuff nobody seems to want can be used to produce electricity, heat, compost material or fuels. Composting material is decayed plant or food products mixed together in a compost pile and spread to help plants grow.

California produces more than 60 million bone dry tons of biomass each year. Of this total, five million bone dry tons is now burned to make electricity. This is biomass from lumber mill wastes, urban wood waste, forest and agricultural residues and other feed stocks.

If all of it was used, the 60 million tons of biomass in California could make close to 2,000 megawatts of electricity for California's growing population and economy. That's enough energy to make electricity for about two million homes!

How biomass works is very simple. The waste wood, tree branches and other scraps are gathered together in big trucks. The trucks bring the waste from factories and from farms to a biomass power plant. Here the biomass is dumped into huge hoppers. This is then fed into a furnace where it is burned. The heat is used to boil water in the boiler, and the energy in the steam is used to turn turbines and generators.

Biomass can also be tapped right at the landfill with burning waster products. When garbage decomposes, it gives off methane gas. Pipelines are put into the landfills and the methane gas can be collected. It is then used in power plants to make electricity. This type of biomass is called landfill gas.

A similar thing can be done at animal feed lots. In places where lots of animals are raised, the animals - like cattle, cows and even chickens - produce manure. When manure decomposes, it also gives off methane gas similar to garbage. This gas can be burned right at the farm to make energy to run the farm.

Using biomass can help reduce global warming compared to a fossil fuel-powered plant. Plants use and store carbon dioxide (CO2) when they grow. CO2 stored in the plant is released when the plant material is burned or decays. By replanting the crops, the new plants can use the CO2 produced by the burned plants. So using biomass and replanting helps close the carbon dioxide cycle. However, if the crops are not replanted, then biomass can emit carbon dioxide that will contribute toward global warming.

So, the use of biomass can be environmentally friendly because the biomass is reduced, recycled and then reused. It is also a renewable resource because plants to make biomass can be grown over and over.

Today, new ways of using biomass are still being discovered. One way is to produce ethanol, a liquid alcohol fuel. Ethanol can be used in special types of cars that are made for using alcohol fuel instead of gasoline. The alcohol can also be combined with gasoline. This reduces our dependence on oil - a non-renewable fossil fuel.

source: http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter10.html

Biomass

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:26:00 +0000

Biomass refers to living and recently dead biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce biofuel, but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic material which has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum.

Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane, and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm oil). The particular plant used is usually not very important to the end products, but it does affect the processing of the raw material. Production of biomass is a growing industry as interest in sustainable fuel sources is growing.

Although fossil fuels have their origin in ancient biomass, they are not considered biomass by the generally accepted definition because they contain carbon that has been "out" of the carbon cycle for a very long time. Their combustion therefore disturbs the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere.

Plastics from biomass, like some recently developed to dissolve in seawater, are made the same way as petroleum-based plastics, are actually cheaper to manufacture and meet or exceed most performance standards. But they lack the same water resistance or longevity as conventional plastics.

Biomass is part of the carbon cycle. Carbon from the atmosphere is converted into biological matter by photosynthesis. On death or combustion the carbon goes back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2). This happens over a relatively short timescale and plant matter used as a fuel can be constantly replaced by planting for new growth. Therefore a reasonably stable level of atmospheric carbon results from its use as a fuel. It is accepted that the amount of carbon stored in dry wood is approximately 50% by weight.

Though biomass is a renewable fuel, and is sometimes called a "carbon neutral" fuel, its use can still contribute to global warming. This happens when the natural carbon equilibrium is disturbed; for example by deforestation or urbanization of green sites. When biomass is used as a fuel, as a replacement for fossil fuels, it still puts the same amount of CO2 into the atmosphere. However, when biomass is used for energy production it is widely considered carbon neutral, or a net reducer of greenhouse gasses because of the offset of methane that would have otherwise entered the atmosphere. The carbon in biomass material, which makes up approximately fifty percent of its dry-matter content, is already part of the atmospheric carbon cycle. Biomass absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere during its growing lifetime. After its life, the carbon in biomass recycles to the atmosphere as a mixture of CO2 and methane (CH4), depending on the ultimate fate of the biomass material. CH4 converts to CO2 in the atmosphere, completing the cycle. In contrast to biomass carbon, the carbon in fossil fuels is locked away in geological storage forever, unless extracted. The use of fossil fuels removes carbon from long-term storage, and adds it to the stock of carbon in the atmospheric cycle.

Energy produced from biomass residues displaces the production of an equivalent amount of energy from fossil fuels, leaving the fossil carbon in storage. It also shifts the composition of the recycled carbon emissions associated with the disposal of the biomass residues from a mixture of CO2 and CH4, to almost exclusively CO2. In the absence of energy production applications, biomass residue carbon would be recycled to the atmosphere through some combination of rotting (biodegradation) and open burning. Rotting produces a mixture of up to fifty percent CH4, while open burning produces five to ten percent CH4. Controlled combustion in a power plant converts virtually all of the carbon in the biomass to CO2. Because CH4 is a much stronger greenhouse gas than CO2, shifting CH4 emissions to CO2 by converting biomass residues to energy significantly reduces the greenhouse warming potential of the recycled carbon associated with other fates or disposal of the biomass residues.

The existing commercial biomass power generating industry in the United States, which consists of approximately 1,700 MW (megawatts) of operating capacity actively supplying power to the grid, produces about 0.5 percent of the U.S. electricity supply. This level of biomass power generation avoids approximately 11 million tons per year of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. It also avoids approximately two million tons per year of CH4 emissions from the biomass residues that, in the absence of energy production, would otherwise be disposed of by burial (in landfills, in disposal piles, or by the plowing under of agricultural residues), by spreading, and by open burning. The avoided CH4 emissions associated with biomass energy production have a greenhouse warming potential that is more than 20 times greater than that of the avoided fossil-fuel CO2 emissions. Biomass power production is at least five times more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions than any other greenhouse-gas-neutral power-production technology, such as other renewables and nuclear.

Currently, the New Hope Power Partnership, owned by Florida Crystals Corporation, is the largest biomass power plant in North America. The 140 MWH facility uses sugar cane fiber (bagasse) and recycled urban wood as fuel to generate enough power for its large milling and refining operations as well as to supply renewable electricity for nearly 60,000 homes. The facility reduces dependence on oil by more than one million barrels per year, and by recycling sugar cane and wood waste, preserves landfill space in urban communities in Florida.

Despite harvesting, biomass crops may sequester (trap) carbon. So for example soil organic carbon has been observed to be greater in switchgrass stands than in cultivated cropland soil, especially at depths below 12 inches.[9] The grass sequesters the carbon in its increased root biomass. But the perennial grass may need to be allowed to grow for several years before increases are measurable.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomass

About Biodiesel

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:41:00 +0000

In response to the recent passage of Minnesota’s bill requiring 2% biodiesel in all diesel fuels starting as early as July 1, 2005, the National Biodiesel Board convened a Cold Flow Consortium. The Consortium was tasked with investigating the blending of biodiesel into diesel fuel at temperatures similar to those experienced in the Minnesota winter, with the objective of defining parameters for successfully preparing homogeneous single-phase blends. The Consortium was composed of fuel providers, marketers, blenders, and other interested parties. Each member had an equal voice in the Consortium.

Scope
This study was designed to accurately determine the temperature where biodiesel and No. 1 and No. 2 diesel could be blended at 2 volume percent (2%) biodiesel, while meeting standards for blend precision and homogeneity. The approach taken was to fabricate a small scale blending system to simulate splash and proportional blending. The system has the capability to blend biodiesel at different rates with different grades of diesel fuel at different temperatures. This study focused on preparing 2% biodiesel (B2) blends exclusively. The blending system was self-contained to include tanks, pumps, motors, and necessary appurtenances. The system included the ability to heat and/or cool the biodiesel as needed and cool the diesel as needed.

Experimental Apparatus
The test unit was designed to be totally portable to allow for future testing at various locations. The design of the test skid was specifically sized for testing B2 as mandated in the state of Minnesota. The test skid included an environmental chilling chamber, capable of cooling fuel to near -60ºF in a reasonably short period of time. A photograph of the blending unit is in Figure 1. Each process and test was recorded manually and with video equipment along with the blending equipment records of volume amounts. To assist in recording the results of these tests, the finished product tank included interior lighting, viewing ports, and sample ports. The finished product tank was manufactured of a clear material to offer the best possible opportunity for evaluating the formation of crystals. The design for the first series of testing simulated splash blending into a clear blending container maintained at ambient temperature. A process and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) of this test bench configuration is contained in Appendix A. For proportional blending, a flow loop was created to allow the fuels to circulate through the piping while inside the cooling chamber. The piping loop included a filter and differential pressure across
the filter was employed to monitor fuel viscosity changes and determine if the fuels were plugging the filters or strainers. Large increases in viscosity or filter plugging would indicate the formation of wax or biodiesel crystals.

Test Procedures
Sequential Blending into Visible Container. These tests simulated splash blending. Four scenarios were tested:

Cold No. 1 diesel was loaded into the container. The first type of biodiesel was added to the top to create a B2 blend. This procedure was repeated for each type of biodiesel.
Cold No. 2 diesel was loaded into the container. The first type of biodiesel was added to the top to create a B2 blend. This procedure was repeated for each type of biodiesel.
Biodiesel was loaded into the container first. The No. 1 diesel fuel was loaded on top to create the B2 blend. This scenario was repeated for each type of biodiesel.
Biodiesel was loaded into the container first. The No. 2 diesel fuel was loaded on top to create the B2 blend. This scenario was repeated for each type of biodiesel.

Proportional Blending. The biodiesel and diesel fuels were blended through proportional blending. To accomplish this, four gallons of cold No. 1 or No. 2 diesel fuel were circulated through the filters and the pressure drop across the filters measured. Biodiesel was then proportionally blended at 2% and any change in the filter pressure drop monitored. This procedure was repeated with each of the three biodiesels.

Test Fuels
A local truck rack operator provided the diesel fuels for this project. The fuels were unadditized commercial grades of No. 1 and No. 2 diesel fuels. The certificates of analysis are in Appendix D and E, respectively. The biodiesels were soy-, yellow grease-, and tallow-derived fuels. The certificates of analysis are in Appendices F, G, and H, respectively. West Central Soy provided the soy biodiesel. Rothsay/Laurenco provided the yellow grease and tallow biodiesels. The biodiesels were sent to a test facility to measure the cloud and pour points of the neat biodiesels and the B2 blends. Because the unadditized diesel fuel (Appendices D and E) was not available, a typical no. 2 diesel was used to make the blends for cloud point and pour point determination.

source : http://www.biodiesel.org

Expo 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:29:00 +0000

Expo 2008 is an international exposition held from 14 June to 14 September 2008 coordinated by the Bureau of International Expositions, the organization that is responsible for sanctioning World's Fairs, held in Zaragoza, Spain, with the topic of "Water and sustainable development". The event is being placed in a meander of the river Ebro.

Zaragoza, host city for the International Exposition, is the administrative and financial capital of the autonomous community of Aragon and the fifth largest Spanish city in inhabitants (660,000), behind Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville. Zaragoza was elected the host city of Expo 2008 on December 16, 2004 by the BIE, beating Thessaloniki (Greece) and Trieste (Italy).

The exhibition’s most emblematic buildings are the Water Tower, a 80-metre-high transparent building designed by Enrique de Teresa to evoke a drop of water, Zaha Hadid's Bridge Pavilion and the river aquarium. The exposition site also hosts several spectacles, including a daily parade by Cirque du Soleil called The Awakening of the Serpent.

Aside from the countries, non-government organizations and private companies also take part in Expo 2008, always with the idea of water and sustainable development. The Expo 2008 host committee has estimated that this event could generate 135 million euros in receipts for admission to the exhibition centre.

Biofuels by Country

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:24:00 +0000

Biofuels by country

Recognizing the importance of implementing bioenergy, there are international organizations such as IEA Bioenergy, established in 1978 by the OECD International Energy Agency (IEA), with the aim of improving cooperation and information exchange between countries that have national programs in bioenergy research, development and deployment. The U.N. International Biofuels Forum is formed by Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the United States and the European Commission. The world leaders in biofuel development and use are Brazil, United States, France, Sweden and Germany.

Israel

IC Green Energy, a subsidiary of Israel Corp., aims by 2012 to process 4-5% of the global biofuel market (~4 million tons). It is focused solely on non-edible feedstock such as Jatropha, Castor, cellulosic biomass and algae.[27] In June 2008, Tel Aviv-based Seambiotic and Seattle-based Inventure Chemical announced a joint venture to use CO2 emissions-fed algae to make ethanol and biodiesel at a biofuel plant in Israel.

China

In China, the government is making E10 blends mandatory in five provinces that account for 16% of the nation's passenger cars. In Southeast Asia, Thailand has mandated an ambitious 10% ethanol mix in gasoline starting in 2007. For similar reasons, the palm oil industry plans to supply an increasing portion of national diesel fuel requirements in Malaysia and Indonesia. In Canada, the government aims for 45% of the country’s gasoline consumption to contain 10% ethanol by 2010.

India
Biofuels in India

In India, a bioethanol program calls for E5 blends throughout most of the country targeting to raise this requirement to E10 and then E20.

Europe

The European Union in its biofuels directive (updated 2006) has set the goal that for 2010 that each member state should achieve at least 5.75% biofuel usage of all used traffic fuel. By 2020 the figure should be 10%. As of January 2008 these aims are being reconsidered in light of certain environmental and social concerns associated with biofuels such as rising food prices and deforestation.

France

France is the second largest biofuel consumer among the EU States in 2006. According to the Ministry of Industry, France's consumption increased by 62.7% to reach 682,000 toe (i.e. 1.6% of French fuel consumption). Biodiesel represents the largest share of this (78%, far ahead of bioethanol with 22%). The unquestionable biodiesel leader in Europe is the French company Diester Industrie. In bioethanol, the French agro-industrial group Téréos is increasing its production capacities. Germany itself remained the largest European biofuel consumer, with a consumption estimate of 2.8 million tons of biodiesel (equivalent to 2,408,000 toe), 0.71 million ton of vegetable oil (628.492 toe) and 0.48 million ton of bioethanol (307,200 toe).

Germany

The biggest biodiesel German company is ADM Ölmühle Hamburg AG, which is a subsidiary of the American group Archer Daniels Midland Company. Among the other large German producers, MUW (Mitteldeutsche Umesterungswerke GmbH & Co KG) and EOP Biodiesel AG. A major contender in terms of bioethanol production is the German sugar corporation, Südzucker.

Spain

The Spanish group Abengoa, via its American subsidiary Abengoa Bioenergy, is the European leader in production of bioethanol.

Sweden
Biofuel in Sweden

The government in Sweden has together with BIL Sweden, the national association for the automobile industry, that are the automakers in Sweden started the work to end oil dependency. One-fifth of cars in Stockholm can run on alternative fuels, mostly ethanol fuel. Also Stockholm will introduce a fleet of Swedish-made hybrid ethanol-electric buses. In 2005, oil phase-out in Sweden by 2020 was announced.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) (announced 2005) is the requirement that by 2010 5% of all road vehicle fuel is renewable. In 2008 a critical report by the Royal Society stated that biofuels risk failing to deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from transport and could even be environmentally damaging unless the Government puts the right policies in place.

Brazil
Biofuel in Brazil

In Brazil, the government hopes to build on the success of the Proálcool ethanol program by expanding the production of biodiesel which must contain 2% biodiesel by 2008, increasing to 5% by 2013.

Colombia

Colombia mandates the use of 10% ethanol in all gasoline sold in cities with populations exceeding 500,000. In Venezuela, the state oil company is supporting the construction of 15 sugar cane distilleries over the next five years, as the government introduces a E10 (10% ethanol) blending mandate.

USA
Biofuel in the United States

In 2006, the United States president George W. Bush said in a State of the Union speech that the US is "addicted to oil" and should replace 75% of imported oil by 2025 by alternative sources of energy including biofuels.

Bioalcohol

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:47:00 +0000

Biologically produced alcohols, most commonly ethanol, and less commonly propanol and butanol, are produced by the action of microorganisms and enzymes through the fermentation of sugars or starches (easiest), or cellulose (which is more difficult). Biobutanol (also called biogasoline) is often claimed to provide a direct replacement for gasoline, because it can be used directly in a gasoline engine (in a similar way to biodiesel in diesel engines).

Butanol is formed by ABE fermentation (acetone, butanol, ethanol) and experimental modifications of the process show potentially high net energy gains with butanol as the only liquid product. Butanol will produce more energy and allegedly can be burned "straight" in existing gasoline engines (without modification to the engine or car), and is less corrosive and less water soluble than ethanol, and could be distributed via existing infrastructures. DuPont and BP are working together to help develop Butanol.

Ethanol fuel is the most common biofuel worldwide, particularly in Brazil. Alcohol fuels are produced by fermentation of sugars derived from wheat, corn, sugar beets, sugar cane, molasses and any sugar or starch that alcoholic beverages can be made from (like potato and fruit waste, etc.). The ethanol production methods used are enzyme digestion (to release sugars from stored starches, fermentation of the sugars, distillation and drying. The distillation process requires significant energy input for heat (often unsustainable natural gas fossil fuel, but cellulosic biomass such as bagasse, the waste left after sugar cane is pressed to extract its juice, can also be used more sustainably).

Ethanol can be used in petrol engines as a replacement for gasoline; it can be mixed with gasoline to any percentage. Most existing automobile petrol engines can run on blends of up to 15% bioethanol with petroleum/gasoline. Gasoline with ethanol added has higher octane, which means that your engine can typically burn hotter and more efficiently. In high altitude (thin air) locations, some states mandate a mix of gasoline and ethanol as a winter oxidizer to reduce atmospheric pollution emissions.

Ethanol fuel has less BTU energy content, which means it takes more fuel (volume and mass) to go the same distance. More-expensive premium fuels contain less, or no, ethanol. In high-compression engines, less ethanol, slower-burning premium fuel is required to avoid harmful pre-ignition (knocking). Very-expensive aviation gasoline (Avgas) is 100 octane made from 100% petroleum. The high price of zero-ethanol Avgas does not include federal-and-state road-use taxes.

Ethanol is very corrosive to fuel systems, rubber hoses-and-gaskets, aluminum, and combustion chambers. It is therefore illegal to use fuels containing alcohol in aircraft (although at least one model of ethanol-powered aircraft has been developed, the Embraer EMB 202 Ipanema). Ethanol is incompatible with marine fiberglass fuel tanks (it makes them leak). For higher ethanol percentage blends, and 100% ethanol vehicles, engine modifications are required.

Corrosive ethanol cannot be transported in petroleum pipelines, so more-expensive over-the-road stainless-steel tank trucks increase the cost and energy consumption required to deliver ethanol to the customer at the pump.

In the current alcohol-from-corn production model in the United States, considering the total energy consumed by farm equipment, cultivation, planting, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides made from petroleum, irrigation systems, harvesting, transport of feedstock to processing plants, fermentation, distillation, drying, transport to fuel terminals and retail pumps, and lower ethanol fuel energy content, the net energy content value added and delivered to consumers is very small. And, the net benefit (all things considered) does little to reduce un-sustainable imported oil and fossil fuels required to produce the ethanol.

Many car manufacturers are now producing flexible-fuel vehicles (FFV's), which can safely run on any combination of bioethanol and petrol, up to 100% bioethanol. They dynamically sense exhaust oxygen content, and adjust the engine's computer systems, spark, and fuel injection accordingly. This adds initial cost and ongoing increased vehicle maintenance. Efficiency falls and pollution emissions increase when FFV system maintenance is needed (regardless of the 0%-to-100% ethanol mix being used), but not performed (as with all vehicles). FFV internal combustion engines are becoming increasingly complex, as are multiple-propulsion-system FFV hybrid vehicles, which impacts cost, maintenance, reliability, and useful lifetime longevity.

Alcohol mixes with both petroleum and with water, so ethanol fuels are often diluted after the drying process by absorbing environmental moisture from the atmosphere. Water in alcohol-mix fuels reduces efficiency, makes engines harder to start, causes intermittent operation (sputtering), and oxidizes aluminum (carburetors) and steel components (rust).

Even dry ethanol has roughly one-third lower energy content per unit of volume compared to gasoline, so larger / heavier fuel tanks are required to travel the same distance, or more fuel stops are required. With large current un-sustainable, non-scalable subsidies, ethanol fuel still costs much more per unit of distance traveled than current high gasoline prices in the United States.

Methanol is currently produced from natural gas, a non-renewable fossil fuel. It can also be produced from biomass as biomethanol. The methanol economy is an interesting alternative to the hydrogen economy, compared to today's hydrogen produced from natural gas, but not hydrogen production directly from water and state-of-the-art clean solar thermal energy processes.

Biodiesel (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:46:00 +0000

PROCESS TECHNOLOGY

Designed for Versatility

Put our versatile, robust biodiesel technology at the heart of your enterprise to produce consistently high quality fuel at a competitive price. Since 1996 we have provided our customers with efficient and appropriately scaled technology to convert a multitude of fats, oils and greases, virgin and waste, into 100% high quality ASTM specification biodiesel. Our combination of real world production experience and robust process technology have made us a premier provider of biodiesel process systems and equipment to companies seeking to weather the ups and downs of volatile feedstock and fuel markets, while delivering the quality and consistency their customers demand. Get acquainted with the complete set of technology features and benefits only Pacific Bidodiesel offers to ensure success for your biodiesel enterprise.

Proven Experience for a Competitive Edge

The greening of America and rising petroleum costs are spurring rapid growth for the biodiesel industry. As your proven partner, Pacific Biodiesel not only assures successful establishment of your operation, but gives you a competitive edge. Our decade of experience building and operating biodiesel plants insures that we will design and build for you the right size plant, with the right equipment, installed and brought on line on time and within budget. Since 1996, Pacific Biodiesel has owned and operated biodiesel plants utilizing multiple feedstocks including used cooking oil, yellow grease, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil, and tallow. From the beginning, we have shared our technology and experience with customers in the United States and abroad. Our participation ranges from providing basic process systems to delivering turn-key biodiesel production facilities complete with management oversight and ongoing operational support. No other technology provider in the industry delivers this range of services, equipment, or support. The competence behind our commitment to plant owners and operators is firmly rooted in our own operational experience.

Water-free Processing for State-of-the-Art Technology

Through extensive research, Pacific Biodiesel Technologies has developed a unique biodiesel refining technology that uses no water and provides consistently high fuel quality. Our dry refining process is superior to water wash and ion exchange resin processes in both cost and efficiency at removing a multitude of trace contaminants which can negatively affect oxidative stability and cold weather performance. This process is standard in our biodiesel systems, and can be retrofit to any existing biodiesel plant.

Multi-Feedstock Flexibility for Changing Markets

To maximize profitability, biodiesel plants must be able to respond to market fluctuations in the price and availability of various feedstocks, with the flexibility to quickly transition from one feedstock to another. We provide a robust and adaptable process technology to meet these goals. Other plant manufacturers claim “multi-feedstock capability,” but glaze over the critical details such as specifying which feedstocks are supported, in what proportions, and what are the resulting yields. Some companies will claim that used oils and greases can be used in their process, but they employ inappropriate process chemistry that can result in losses in efficiency that can exceed 30%. Pacific Biodiesel’s unique reaction technologies allow the use of up to 15% FFA feedstock without loss of yield. Our process is also designed to handle contaminants commonly found in used and unrefined oils and fats, but which competitors fail to mention as diminishing production factors.These include moisture, insoluble and inorganic impurities, excess unsaponifiable matter, and phospholipids. We have been processing used and unrefined oils and fats for more than a decade. No one provides more robust solutions for using multiple feedstocks to adapt to challenging market changes.

Superior Fuel Quality for End-user Satisfaction

We guarantee that our process plants will meet ASTM standards using a multitude of feedstocks. Pacific Biodiesel’s robust process chemistry and three-stage product refining produce a fuel with quality that is second to none. Our multi-stage reaction efficiently converts fatty acids and glycerides to methyl esters, while our vacuum distillation and dry refining steps remove trace amounts of water, methanol and minor impurities to yield a fuel with exceptional quality and a long shelf life.

Quality Equipment for the Long Haul

As producers, we understand the importance of avoiding downtime to make repairs. In biodiesel production, Inferior equipment is the primary cause. Our process equipment is constructed of stainless steel and with specially design elastomers for superior longevity and lower maintenance costs. The quality of our equipment in materials and manufacturing is backed by a blanket one-year warranty, with a five-year warranty on all process vessels. Extended warrantees are also available. One of the biggest mistakes a producer can make is choosing equipment that was not designed or built for a long service life under rigorous conditions. The use of low grade materials, including plastic vessel and pipe, not only falls short of profitable performance, but is unsafe. The use of lower quality components and wear parts in competitors’ systems ignore the long-term maintenance and replacement costs.

Designed for Safety

Careful attention to safe operating practices is pervasive in the design of Pacific Biodiesel Technologies equipment. We apply the principles of intrinsically safe design whenever possible, and closely follow NFPA, ASME, and UL codes for all vessels, piping systems and electrical equipment. Pacific Biodiesel Technologies is committed to designing, engineering, and fabricating systems that enhance the safety and ergonomics of its biodiesel plants.

High Yield Efficiency for the Bottom Line

By employing precise reaction chemistry and proprietary ester and byproduct refining technologies, our process delivers the highest possible yield from any feedstock used. Many technology providers skirt the issue of yield losses inherent to traditional process chemistry, particularly the lack of proper equipment to treat and recover crude ester and byproduct streams. Our process is designed to recycle every drop of feedstock diverted in the production process and sized to ensure consistent output even through feedstock transitions.

Complete Methanol Recovery for Reduced Costs

A comprehensive approach to methanol recovery is essential to ensuring a competitive edge. Some technology providers claim to offer methanol recovery technology, but limit the process to recycling methanol from the biodiesel refining step, while the crude byproducts (glycerin) remain untreated. Their process actually results in a loss of methanol and produces a hazardous waste stream. Other biodiesel producers have turned to “off the shelf” distillation units, or to suppliers of methanol recovery equipment to other industries, often with poor results. Pacific Biodiesel Technologies’ process equipment recovers all excess methanol, and is specifically designed for the biodiesel production process. Careful attention is paid to specifying equipment and creating conditions that maintain high product quality during evaporation and distillation. The use of our three-step recovery system keeps methanol consumption to the theoretical minimum while producing high quality co-products.

85% Glycerin Purity for Increased Revenue

Pacific Biodiesel Technologies’ proprietary byproduct refining technology allows the recovery of 85%+ pure glycerin from the crude byproduct stream. The resulting glycerin is suitable for use as animal feed, is upgradeable to USP quality, or can be used in a multitude of other areas. Also, recycling excess methanol and feedstock residues into the process improves yield and lowers operating costs.

Reduced Environmental Footprint for Sustainability

A small environmental footprint is an essential aspect of a sustainable biodiesel facility. Our processes come standard with vapor recovery to eliminate fugitive emissions. The use of our proprietary dry refining process eliminates the use of water and creates a non-hazardous solid from product impurities. Methanol recovery from all process streams keeps methanol consumption to a minimum. Our facilities may be equipped with state-of-the-art cooling tower and boiler water treatment options to eliminate chemical use in these areas, also.

referense biodiesel.com

Biodiesel (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:35:00 +0000

WHAT IS BIODIESEL

Biodiesel is a clean burning renewable fuel made using natural vegetable oils and fats.
Biodiesel is made through a chemical process which converts oils and fats of natural origin into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Biodiesel IS NOT vegetable oil.
Biodiesel is intended to be used as a replacement for petroleum diesel fuel, or can be blended with petroleum diesel fuel in any proportion.
Biodiesel does not require modifications to a diesel engine to be used.
Biodiesel has reduced exhaust emissions compared to petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel has lower toxicity compared to petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel is safer to handle compared to petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel quality is governed by ASTM D 6751 quality parameters.
Biodiesel is biodegradable.

What is NOT Biodiesel

Look Carefully! Many companies and groups improperly use the word biodiesel to describe diesel fuel replacement products they have developed. This creates significant confusion for consumers looking to purchase and use biodiesel. Some of these alternatives have not been properly tested and could lead to damage to vehicles. Below is some information to help distinguish real biodiesel from imposters.
What biodiesel IS NOT:

Biodiesel is not vegetable oil.
Biodiesel is not vegetable oil diluted with solvents, i.e. diesel fuel or alcohols.
Biodiesel is not vegetable oil with “special additives” to make it run better.
Biodiesel is not vegetable oil refined through a conventional oil refinery process.
Biodiesel is not vegetable oil refined through thermal depolymerization (renewable diesel).
Biodiesel is not a fuel that requires costly modifications to your diesel engine (straight vegetable oil).
Biodiesel is not crude methyl esters which have not been refined or minimally refined.

Unlike biodiesel, none of the fluids listed above have undergone renewable fuel certification, emissions or toxicity testing, or long-term reliability testing in engines and vehicles.

How to Make Sure You are Getting Biodiesel

In order to be called biodiesel and receive certain tax credits specifically intended for biodiesel:

Biodiesel must be produced from naturally occurring fats and oils using transesterification.
Biodiesel must be composed of fatty acid methyl esters.
Biodiesel must be refined to remove all trace impurities.
Biodiesel must meet the ASTM standard D6751-07b “Specification for Biodiesel (B100)”.

If a fuel product does not meet these requirements it IS NOT biodiesel, and does not quality for tax credits relating to biodiesel. The most important thing to ask your fuel provider is if the biodiesel is ASTM certified.

Biodiesel (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:16:00 +0000

HISTORY OF BIODIESEL FUEL

Developed in the 1890s by inventor Rudolph Diesel, the diesel engine has become the engine of choice for power, reliability, and high fuel economy, worldwide. Early experimenters on vegetable oil fuels included the French government and Dr. Diesel himself, who envisioned that pure vegetable oils could power early diesel engines for agriculture in remote areas of the world, where petroleum was not available at the time. Modern biodiesel fuel, which is made by converting vegetable oils into compounds called fatty acid methyl esters, has its roots in research conducted in the 1930s in Belgium, but today’s biodiesel industry was not established in Europe until the late 1980s.

The diesel engine was developed out of a desire to improve upon inefficient, cumbersome and sometimes dangerous steam engines of the late 1800s. The diesel engine works on the principal of compression ignition, in which fuel is injected into the engine’s cylinder after air has been compressed to a high pressure and temperature. As the fuel enters the cylinder it self-ignites and burns rapidly, forcing the piston back down and converting the chemical energy in the fuel into mechanical energy. Dr. Rudolph Diesel, for which the engine is named, holds the first patent for the compression ignition engine, issued in 1893. Diesel became known worldwide for his innovative engine which could use a variety of fuels.

Early Work

The early diesel engines had complex injection systems and were designed to run on many different fuels, from kerosene to coal dust. It was only a matter of time before someone recognized that, because of their high energy content, vegetable oils would make excellent fuel. The first public demonstration of vegetable oil based diesel fuel was at the 1900 World’s Fair, when the French government commissioned the Otto company to build a diesel engine to run on peanut oil. The French government was interested in vegetable oils as a domestic fuel for their African colonies. Rudolph Diesel later did extensive work on vegetable oil fuels and became a leading proponent of such a concept, believing that farmers could benefit from providing their own fuel. However, it would take almost a century before such an idea became a widespread reality. Shortly after Dr. Diesel’s death in 1913 petroleum became widely available in a variety of forms, including the class of fuel we know today as “diesel fuel”. With petroleum being available and cheap, the diesel engine design was changed to match the properties of petroleum diesel fuel. The result was an engine which was fuel efficient and very powerful. For the next 80 years diesel engines would become the industry standard where power, economy and reliability are required.

Modern Engine, Modern Fuel

Due to the widespread availability and low cost of petroleum diesel fuel, vegetable oil-based fuels gained little attention, except in times of high oil prices and shortages. World War II and the oil crises of the 1970’s saw brief interest in using vegetable oils to fuel diesel engines. Unfortunately, the newer diesel engine designs could not run on traditional vegetable oils, due to the much higher viscosity of vegetable oil compared to petroleum diesel fuel. A way was needed to lower the viscosity of vegetable oils to a point where they could be burned properly in the diesel engine. Many methods have been proposed to perform this task, including pyrolysis, blending with solvents, and even emulsifying the fuel with water or alcohols, none of which have provided a suitable solution. It was a Belgian inventor in 1937 who first proposed using transesterification to convert vegetable oils into fatty acid alkyl esters and use them as a diesel fuel replacement. The process of transesterification converts vegetable oil into three smaller molecules which are much less viscous and easy to burn in a diesel engine. The transesterification reaction is the basis for the production of modern biodiesel, which is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters. In the early 1980s concerns over the environment, energy security, and agricultural overproduction once again brought the use of vegetable oils to the forefront, this time with transesterification as the preferred method of producing such fuel replacements.

Biodiesel Goes Worldwide

Pioneering work in Europe and South Africa by researchers such as Martin Mittelbach furthered development of the biodiesel fuel industry in the early 1990s, with the U.S. industry coming on more slowly, due to lower prices for petroleum diesel. Pacific Biodiesel became one of the first biodiesel plants in the United States in 1996, establishing a biodiesel production operation to recycle used cooking oil into biodiesel on the island Maui in Hawaii. The biodiesel industry became a household name in the U.S. after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 resulted in historically high oil prices and an increased awareness of energy security. As of 2005, worldwide biodiesel production had reached 1.1 billion gallons, with most fuel being produced in the European Union, although biodiesel projects worldwide have been on the rise due to rising crude oil prices and concerns over global warming.

The Future of Biodiesel Fuel

Due to its clean emissions profile, ease of use, and many other benefits, biodiesel is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing alternative fuels in the world. With minimal subsidy biodiesel is cost competitive with petroleum diesel, and millions of users have found and enjoyed the benefits of the fuel. The future of biodiesel lies in the world’s ability to produce renewable feedstocks such as vegetable oils and fats to keep the cost of biodiesel competitive with petroleum, without supplanting land necessary for food production, or destroying natural ecosystems in the process. Creating biodiesel in a sustainable manner, will allow this clean, renewable, and cost effective fuel to help ease the world through increasing shortages of petroleum, while providing economic and environmental benefits well into the 21st century.

Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:08:00 +0000

Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO). The Company’s own plantations provide approximately 20% of the fruit processed by three Univanich factories, with the balance provided by more than 1,000 small and medium sized out-grower farmers.

The Univanich production process starts with our oil palm breeding programme and seed production unit. High quality hybrid oil palm seedlings are produced for our own plantings or for sale to our farmer suppliers. After careful selection in the Company’s nurseries, seedlings are ready for planting at around the age of 10 to 12 months.

Univanich hybrid oil palm seed is produced by cross pollinating pedigree Dura and Pisifera parent palms which have been collected over 30 years from leading breeding programmes around the world. To ensure high yields in Thailand’s growing conditions the progeny of these parent palms have been extensively tested in field trials to select the best hybrid crosses.

Germinated Univanich oil palm seeds for overseas customers are carefully packaged in cartons of 4,000 seeds each and are dispatched by airfreight from Phuket international airport.

Since 1992 Univanich has been progressively replanting with a new generation of high yielding palms. Pictured here are typical 18 month old Univanich oil palms. Harvesting will commence 28 months from planting.

By age 7 years the young palms have reached full maturity. Fruit bunches like these ripen and are harvested throughout the year, to provide a continuous supply of fruit.

Mechanisation features throughout the Univanich plantation operations, from collection of the fruit bunches in the field, to their transport to the factories by crane lorries or portable transport bins.

The Company’s newest factory, with initial capacity of 45 tonnes fruit per hour, was completed in the 4th Quarter of 2004. This factory is designed for expansion to 90 tonnes of fruit per hour as more young palms come into production in the Krabi area.
In 2005, the Company also increased its Palm Kernel crushing capacity to produce approximately 1,500 tonnes of palm kernel oil each month.

Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) is despatched from Univanich factories by road tankers. These tankers deliver our products to customers in Bangkok or for export from our deep-water wharf at the nearby port of Krabi on the Andaman Sea.

Univanich is proud to be a supplier of raw materials to leading international manufacturers of a wide range of palm based products, including cooking oils, margarines, snack foods, dairy substitutes, soaps and cosmetics.

Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:54:00 +0000

"We turned our kitchen into a sort of illicit still and made a hell of a mess in there brewing biodiesel fuel out of about 60 litres of yukky waste cooking oil we got from behind McDonald's one night (they were happy to give it to us once we told them we didn't want to eat it). We were sure it would work, but we had to make it ourselves first -- we're not chemists, and if we can make it anyone can.

"And it works! Amazing! Last night we put the stuff in Midori's old diesel Land Rover and it ran like a dream and smelt like a bunch of roses! Well, French fried roses anyway. Now it runs clean, on waste Big Mac residues we brewed up in a bucket in the kitchen, and we're very tickled!"

Biodiesel facts
Biodiesel is much cleaner than fossil-fuel diesel ("dinodiesel"). It can be used in any diesel engine with no need for modifications -- in fact diesel engines run better and last longer with biodiesel. And it can easily be made from a common waste product -- used cooking oil.

Biodiesel burns up to 75% cleaner than conventional petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel reduces unburned hydrocarbons (-93%), carbon monoxide (-50%) and particulate matter (-30%) in exhaust fumes, as well as cancer-causing PAH (-80%) and nitrited PAH compounds (-90%). (US Environmental Protection Agency)
Sulphur dioxide emissions are eliminated (biodiesel contains no sulphur).
Biodiesel is plant-based and using it adds no extra CO2 to the atmosphere.
The ozone-forming (smog) potential of biodiesel emissions is nearly 50% less than petro-diesel emissions.
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions may increase or decrease but can be reduced to well below petro-diesel fuel levels.
Biodiesel exhaust is not offensive and doesn't cause eye irritation (it smells like French fries!).
Biodiesel is environmentally friendly: it is renewable, "more biodegradable than sugar and less toxic than table salt" (US National Biodiesel Board, based on US Environmental Protection Agency studies).
Biodiesel is a much better lubricant than petro-diesel and extends engine life -- even a small amount of biodiesel means cleaner emissions and better engine lubrication: 1% biodiesel added to petro-diesel will increase lubricity by 65%.
Biodiesel can be mixed with petro-diesel in any proportion, with no need for a mixing additive.
Biodiesel has a higher cetane number than petroleum diesel because of its oxygen content. The higher the cetane number, the more efficient the fuel -- the engine starts more easily, runs better and burns cleaner.
With slight variations depending on the vehicle, performance and fuel economy with biodiesel is the same as with petro-diesel.

Palm Oil Plantation Project

noreply@blogger.com (Plantations) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:31:00 +0000

Millions of hectares of forest on Borneo are at risk if the government proceeds with a plan to open the world's largest palm oil plantation on the island, environmental activists said.

""This plan endangers many crucial areas: the forests, the rivers and especially, the rich biodiversity in Kalimantan's forest,"" said Purwo Susanto, World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) official for conservation initiatives in Kalimantan during a recent media trip to West Kalimantan.

Purwo said that as oil palm plantation companies used a clear-cut system to clear land, all trees in the designated areas would have to be cut down to allow the firms to carry out the plantation process. Such methods are accelerating the deforestation problem in this country.

Kalimantan, also known as Borneo, is the third largest island on the planet after Greenland and New Guinea, and it has a vast area of tropical rainforest, which is home to several near-extinct species, such as orangutans.

According to WWF data, Kalimantan, which has 27 million hectares of forests, has suffered from serious deforestation; at a rate of 1.2 million hectares annually, while the World Bank predicts that by 2010, all of Kalimantan's lowland forests will disappear if nothing is done to curb deforestation, which is mostly caused by illegal logging and shifting cultivation.

The government has announced a plan to set up one of the largest oil palm plantations in the world, as a follow-up to an agreement signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and China's Prime Minister Hu Jintao in an effort to boost trade and investment activities between the two countries.

The proposed scheme, to be funded by China, is expected to cover an area of 1.8 million hectares along the 850-kilometer Indonesia-Malaysia border in the northern areas of West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan provinces.

A document made available to The Jakarta Post showed that a consortium of state-owned plantation firms, PTPN I to PTPN XIV, proposes a 1-million hectare area in West Kalimantan and another 800,000 in East Kalimantan for the planned plantations.

It also says that the scheme is estimated to attract Rp 85.14 trillion (US$8.50 billion) worth of foreign investments and would provide jobs for 182,700 people.

However, the proposed plantation areas runs through two protected areas -- Betung Kerihun National Park in West Kalimantan and Kayan Mentarang National Park in East Kalimantan, which are home to some of Kalimantan's 44 endemic mammals and over 300 new-found species, as well as home for thousands of other rare species of plants.

According to the proposal, the area in West Kalimantan covers six regencies -- Sambas, Bengkayang, Sanggau, Landak, Sintang and Kapuas Hulu -- and three regencies in East Kalimantan -- Kutai Barat, Malinau and Nunukan.

""Most of the proposed area is mountainous region that holds huge tracts of forests where 14 of the 20 major rivers in Kalimantan originate from. If the trees there are gone, it would surely threaten the lives of animals in the lower area,"" Purwo said.

When asked about the plan, deputy regent of Kapuas Hulu regency, Yoseph Alexander, said his administration was still studying whether the proposed project would benefit his people and the local environment.

""Up to now, there hasn't been any formal discussion with the government, but we are analyzing whether the scheme is suitable as seven districts in our area are located 500 meters above sea level,"" he said, adding that oil palm trees might not produce well in such highland regions.

A study carried out last year by the Bogor-based Center for International Forestry Research, concluded that the 200 sites in Kalimantan were not suitable for the cultivation of palm oil or other major cash crops, such as pepper and coffee.

""As much as we want the government to develop the border area, we care more about conserving it. Moreover, we have declared our region a conservation regency since 2003, so we have to defend that status,"" Yoseph said.

Farmers and fishermen in the border area said they opposed the plans because it would threaten the local rivers, sources of their livelihood.

""Establishing these plantations will endanger our rivers. Fertilizer used to grow the palm trees will contaminate the rivers and the lakes.""

""Moreover, the border area is a water buffer zone, which is vital for the whole of Kalimantan,"" said Hermanus Riyanto, head of Labian Village, Kapuas Hulu regency, who catches fish for daily consumption.

Secretary-General of the Indigenous People's Alliance of West Kalimantan Mina Susana Setra said that local people and NGOs opposed the idea because the government did not involve the locals in the decision-making process.

""Oil palm plantations have also changed the life of the local people, the Dayaks. Learning from experience, after the plantations were set up, the Dayaks were inundated with consumerism, alcohol, gambling and prostitution. The government never calculated these affects in their economic calculation,"" she said at a discussion with the media in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.

A spokesperson for the West Kalimantan branch of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Yohannes R. Jemeli said that Walhi would launch a campaign to push the government to drop the planned project through national and international lobbying.

""Among other things, we will inform people of the danger of these plantations on the border area as well as lobbying European countries to refuse any kind of loans that will be used to invest in the planned plantation project,""