The Risks of Homemade Biodiesel
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13052/dgaej2156-3306.2623Keywords:
Homemade biodiesel, biodiesel process, hazard analysis, fault tree analysis, FMEA, Failure Mode and Effect AnalysisAbstract
ue to diverse reasons, energy production will move from centralized facilities to distributed networks of community-scale or smaller,
independent producers. If such on-site energy producers are guided by
sound engineering principles and safe practices, there is nothing to fear
about Distributed Generation (DG) of power, energy or fuel. However,
moving the production facilities closer to residences—whenever such
facilities are operated with substandard equipment by poorly trained
people- could be quite dangerous. The worst case is an improvised facility operated by non-professional staff that uses toxic chemicals. Homebased biodiesel production fits this model. Thus this paper documents
the biodiesel production process. The chemicals of concern are described.
A “what if” exercise follows to understand the various risk exposures. A
Preliminary Hazard List is developed. Finally, the risks of each potential
challenge are quantified and assessed to determine severity and policy
implications. Recommendations include procedures for safe operation as
well as facility and equipment design and installation guidelines.
Downloads
References
E Company. (2010). Material safety data sheet: Fatty acid methyl esters. Retrieved
/20/2010 from http://www.msds.com/index.asp
Bahr, N.J. (1997). System safety engineering and risk assessment: A practical approach.
New York: Taylor and Francis.
Button, S. (2009/2010). Biodiesel: Vehicle fuel from vegetable oil. Energy and Environment. Vol. 20, No. 8. and Vol. 21, No. 1. Retrieved
/29/2010 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/ehost/
pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&hid=5&sid=02832c75-a113-4ce8-ad7ddba4ce549395%40sessionmgr11
Energy Information Administration. (2009). Light-duty diesel vehicles: Efficiency and
emissions attributes and market issues. Retrieved 8/8/2009 from http://www.eia.
doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/lightduty/execsummary.html
Environmental Protection Agency. (August 1994). Chemfacts: Methanol. Retrieved
/4/2010 from http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemfact/s_methan.txt
Estill, L., & Burton, R. (2005, December). Our place in the biodiesel waste stream. BioCycle, 28-31.
Evans, J. (2008, June). Taxing time for european biodiesel. Biodiesel Magazine. Retrieved
/28/2010 from http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2386
Evolution Biodiesel (2010) Retrieved 4/4/2010 from http://www.evolutionbiodieselkits.
com/
Khan M.I., Lakhal S.Y., and Islam M.R. (October 2007). Analyzing sustainability of
community-based energy development technologies. Proceedings of the 37th
international conference on computers and industrial engineering.
Kemp, W.H. (2006). Biodiesel: basics and beyond. Tamworth, Ontario Canada: Aztext
Press.
Kingwell, R. and Plunkett, B. (April 2006). Economics of on-farm biofuel production.
Retrieved 4/4/2010 from http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/
content/sust/biofuel/200603_bfonfarmeconomics.pdf
Maryland State Comptroller, Office of the. (2009). Biodiesel and maryland tax. Retrieved
/3/2009 from http://compnet.comp.state.md.us/MATT_Regulatory_Division/
Motor_Fuel_Tax/Static_Files/SVO_Biodiesel.pdf
Narayanan, D., Zhang, Y., and Mannan, M. (2007). Engineering for sustainable development (ESD) in bio-diesel production. Trans icheme, Part b, Process safety and environmental protection, 85(b5). Retrieved 3/27/2010 from http://web.ebscohost.
com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=7&sid=c26ffd2f-cb5a-4232-b4c0-
a837a274e5a5%40sessionmgr13
National Biodiesel Board. (ND). Sample material safety data sheet: Biodiesel (b100).
Retrieved 4/4/2010 from http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/fuelfactsheets/
National Biodiesel Board & Hoar, P. (2008, October 23). Biodiesel fuel quality enforcement program. Retrieved 6/26/2009 from http://www.nhcleancities.org/presentations/10_23_08_Expo/Biodiesel%20Fuel%20Quality%20Enforcement-Clean%20
Cit%20Oct%2008.pdf
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. (January 2010). Right to know
hazardous substance fact sheet: Potassium hydroxide. Retrieved 4/4/2010 from
http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1571.pdf
Oxford University Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory. (April 2005). Chemical safety data: Glycerol. Retrieved 4/4/2010 from http://cartwright.chem.ox.ac.
uk/hsci/chemicals/glycerol.html
Oxford University Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory. (January 2007).
Chemical safety data: Potassium hydroxide. Retrieved 4/4/2010 from http://cartwright.chem.ox.ac.uk/hsci/chemicals/potassium_hydroxide.html
Potter, M.J. April 7, 2010. Personal interview with retired, professional firefighter.
Resource Engineering, Inc. (2004). FMEA Checklists and Forms. Retrieved 7/29/2010
from http://www.qualitytrainingportal.com/resources/fmea/
ScholAR Chemistry. (December 2002). Material safety data sheet: Vegetable oil. Retrieved
/4/2010 from http://www.biodiesel-buy.com/BD%20SPECS/WVO-MSDS.pdf
Science Stuff, Inc. (2006). Material safety data sheet: Glycerol. Retrieved 4/4/2010 from
http://www.sciencestuff.com/msds/C1794.html
Tickell, J. (2000). From the fryer to the fuel tank: The complete guide to using vegetable
oil as an alternative fuel. (3rd. ed). Covington, LA: Tickell Energy Consultants.
Waste Management and Research Center. (ND). Feasibility report: Small scale biodiesel
production. Retrieved 4/4/2010 from http://www.istc.illinois.edu/main_sections/
tech_assist/small-scale-biodiesel.pdf
