It May Smell like French Fries: Using Bio-Diesel Fuel

The wave of Going Green is taking America by storm. As of the past decade, the need and use of alternative fuels have grown with much prevalence. One interesting discovery has been the manufacturing of biodiesel fuel, through the recycling of fryer grease.

Yes, fryer grease! It may smell like french fries, but it has the potential to relieve America of foreign oil dependency.

Bio-diesel fuel: Mixture of volatile, flammable hydrocarbons derived from plant material or animal waste and used as fuel.
www.answers.com/topic/biofuel

Traditionally, recycled cooking oils(vegetable oil, cotton seed oil etc.) and oils from animal fat had been recycled after it's use and then sold to farmers to mix with their feed for their live stock(particularly pigs). The feed of the live stock would be coated with the slushy mixture to encourage the animals to eat(perhaps it served as seasoning). However, as studies had later shown. This precious commodity could also be used to fuel engines.

Tests of this biodegradable product also shown that the fuel, when burned, produces 80% less carbon dioxide and 100% less sulfur emissions than petroleum based fuels. astmbiofuel.com/content/biodiesel-difference-3 It is also the only alternative fuel to pass the effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act astmbiofuel.com/content/about-us

With all of the positives this 'wonder-oil' has to offer, it seems the demand should increase two-fold as people catch on. Right now a big producing portion of this alternative fuel are farmers, and a majority of the retail food business uses the grease.(McDonalds, Burger King, etc.) These restaurants typically pay some company to come in periodically and empty grease traps and/or bins filled with grease to be hauled off and recycled. The same way they pay for the trash bins to be emptied. You can find such receptacles discretely located behind the restaurants, usually about 30-40 yards away. However, a new trend is starting. A trend that has taken this collection process for a complete turn around. With the increasing popularity of alternative fuels via used cooking grease, companies have emerged to offer restaurant owners an incentive for their grease. Including free services to rid of the messy substance and even compensation. Yes, compensation! Many new refining companies are now, instead of charging a restaurant owner for removing his messy trash, paying the restaurant owners to remove their used grease. This is a 'no-brainer' for the owner, for he is not only saving money, but even earning a residual on top of that. The refining companies win, because they can then sell the refined fuel to the gasoline market, to sell as diesel fuel.

Another perk is that this process can be taken to an even smaller scale. The general public can also get in on the action. For those families that fry food in their homes and re-use their grease like restaurants, but get rid of it via the garbage can or toilet. They do not have to pollute the environment anymore, nor literally throw money down the drain. Homemade refining kits can be purchased at local home and garden retailers such as Home Depot. Or you can shop online at various retailers like fryer-to-fuel.com and www.homebiodieselkits.com/ Prices for such a kit range from $3,000 and up, and can be financed. One can learn the steps in various tutorials on YouTube, blogger, etc., which involves very easy and self explanatory steps. bio-green.blogspot.com/

What if you are not a person that eats nor cooks fried foods you ask? Well, there is still something in it for you. One could buy a kit and simply survey their local neighborhood for restaurants and ask if their used grease could be purchased. Getting it for free would be even better, as many companies are still paying for such services. They should be happy to oblige, and your savings will be enormous. Plus you will be doing a tremendous service to the environment.

Most restaurants purchase their fryer grease/oil by the pound. Typically boxes of 5 pounds, which equates to approximately 35 gallon. An ideal price to pay would be between 30 and 50 cents per gallon. If the owner pays
roughly $40 for a box of fryer grease and selling the used portion at 50 cents per gallon. The owner would have a savings of $2.50. doesn't seem like much savings, but when you multiply that by the average amount of used grease produced in a day, by the use in a week, then a month and a year, you have a whole heck of a lot of, not only savings, but also profit. This spells out a lot if one were originally being charged to get rid of the grease.
You(the purchaser) would reap the benefits of getting diesel fuel at 50 cents per gallon when the going rate on the market is about $2.78. according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration as of Feb. 2nd, 2010. tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp The only thing now is, having a dieseled engine vehicle. Now a days, there's an abundance of car manufacturers that have invested in diesel fueled engines. Just as they have invested in hybrids. Some include: Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge and BMW. www.edmunds.com/diesel/index.html

With so many resources these days for the typical person to get involved and make a difference. It seems very feasible to increase the popularity and use of alternative fuels(such as used cooking grease) in order to rid ourselves, as Americans, of the foreign dependency of petroleum. As it both ruins the earth and puts a dent on our wallets. The only disadvantage that may be, in this entire market of alternative fuels, is that you may find yourself often hungry while driving. For reports from users have stated that the smell of french fries fill the air.