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Bently biodiesel plant opens
Imagine a world where consumers won't have to depend on foreign oil to fuel their vehicles. The fuel wouldn't pollute the environment and would be manufactured from either recycled materials or from plants grown in a nearby field.
That world could be Minden.
On Nov. 2, Bently Biofuels Co. completed its first batch of biodiesel fuel made from the oil of canola seeds grown last summer by Bently Agrowdynamics.
Bently broke ground for its production plant in March of this year and ran its first batch of biodiesel fuel eight months later.
"We can grow it all here," said Don Bently, owner and chief executive officer of Bently Agrowdynamics.
"All it takes is seeds to manufacture biodiesel," Bently said. "You don't have to import oil. All you need is sunshine and the plants produce oil. "
Methyl ester, the chemical name for biodiesel, is manufactured from the reaction that occurs when animal or vegetable oils and methyl alcohol are combined in the presence of a catalyst. The process of converting vegetable oil to biodiesel fuel takes about a week.
Glycerin is the by-product of the production of biodiesel and is used in cosmetics, dust suppression or compost. Bently Agrowdynamics already uses glycerin in its composting program.
The resulting biodiesel can replace petroleum fuel in diesel vehicles or as a heating fuel. While most new diesel engines will need no modifications to use biodiesel, some older engines will need to have rubber hoses and gaskets replaced with the synthetic types used in newer vehicles.
Bently Biofuels pays local restaurants up to 40 cents per gallon for the used cooking oil utilized in making biodiesel. The service provides empty drums and removes the used oil. This is an improvement over the restaurant owners having to pay to get rid of their old cooking oil.
Similar to petroleum diesel, biodiesel "gels" at lower temperatures making engines hard to start in the winter. The problem is reduced when biodiesel is blended with additives.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that reduces toxic emissions and greenhouse gases. It burns clean because it doesn't contain sulfur. Pollutants such as carbon monoxide, uncombusted hydrocarbons, particulate matter and carcinogens normally associated with petroleum diesel are all reduced when biodiesel is used either at 100 percent or with blends with petroleum diesel.
"Eventually we'd like to offer biodiesel to the public but we're not ready to put a service station at the end of the block," said Carlo Luri, general manager of Bently Biofuels Co.
The public will be able to attend an open house Jan. 7 to tour the Bently biodiesel plant. The uses of biodiesel fuel, its future availability and price range will be explained. Exact times for the open house will be announced soon.
"This will be social gathering to educate people about biodiesel," Luri said. "Mr. Bently is big on education. "
In light of growing fuel costs and depleting petroleum oil reserves, the onset on biofuel production is not too soon.
"The most exciting aspect of this new fuel is that it is produced from locally available raw materials and waste products," said Luri.
"Biodiesel reduces the impact on the environment associated with fossil fuels and improves our national security and balance of trade by reducing our need for foreign imports," he said.
"Biofuels are truly renewable. We can make more," said Bently. "We've used up the petroleum reserves in the world. It's becoming more expensive as the supply declines," said Bently.
"It's up to us to change the system for the better," he said.
Bently Biofuels Co. is a member of the National Biodiesel Board. For more information about biodiesel, go to www.biodiesel.org.
For information about becoming part of the restaurant oil recycling program, e-mail at -- email address removed -- or call 783-0123.
What: Bently biodiesel plant open house
When: Sat. Jan. 7
Time to be announced
Info: 783-0123
Imagine a world where consumers won't have to depend on foreign oil to fuel their vehicles. The fuel wouldn't pollute the environment and would be manufactured from either recycled materials or from plants grown in a nearby field.
That world could be Minden.
On Nov. 2, Bently Biofuels Co. completed its first batch of biodiesel fuel made from the oil of canola seeds grown last summer by Bently Agrowdynamics.
Bently broke ground for its production plant in March of this year and ran its first batch of biodiesel fuel eight months later.
"We can grow it all here," said Don Bently, owner and chief executive officer of Bently Agrowdynamics.
"All it takes is seeds to manufacture biodiesel," Bently said. "You don't have to import oil. All you need is sunshine and the plants produce oil. "
Methyl ester, the chemical name for biodiesel, is manufactured from the reaction that occurs when animal or vegetable oils and methyl alcohol are combined in the presence of a catalyst. The process of converting vegetable oil to biodiesel fuel takes about a week.
Glycerin is the by-product of the production of biodiesel and is used in cosmetics, dust suppression or compost. Bently Agrowdynamics already uses glycerin in its composting program.
The resulting biodiesel can replace petroleum fuel in diesel vehicles or as a heating fuel. While most new diesel engines will need no modifications to use biodiesel, some older engines will need to have rubber hoses and gaskets replaced with the synthetic types used in newer vehicles.
Bently Biofuels pays local restaurants up to 40 cents per gallon for the used cooking oil utilized in making biodiesel. The service provides empty drums and removes the used oil. This is an improvement over the restaurant owners having to pay to get rid of their old cooking oil.
Similar to petroleum diesel, biodiesel "gels" at lower temperatures making engines hard to start in the winter. The problem is reduced when biodiesel is blended with additives.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that reduces toxic emissions and greenhouse gases. It burns clean because it doesn't contain sulfur. Pollutants such as carbon monoxide, uncombusted hydrocarbons, particulate matter and carcinogens normally associated with petroleum diesel are all reduced when biodiesel is used either at 100 percent or with blends with petroleum diesel.
"Eventually we'd like to offer biodiesel to the public but we're not ready to put a service station at the end of the block," said Carlo Luri, general manager of Bently Biofuels Co.
The public will be able to attend an open house Jan. 7 to tour the Bently biodiesel plant. The uses of biodiesel fuel, its future availability and price range will be explained. Exact times for the open house will be announced soon.
"This will be social gathering to educate people about biodiesel," Luri said. "Mr. Bently is big on education. "
In light of growing fuel costs and depleting petroleum oil reserves, the onset on biofuel production is not too soon.
"The most exciting aspect of this new fuel is that it is produced from locally available raw materials and waste products," said Luri.
"Biodiesel reduces the impact on the environment associated with fossil fuels and improves our national security and balance of trade by reducing our need for foreign imports," he said.
"Biofuels are truly renewable. We can make more," said Bently. "We've used up the petroleum reserves in the world. It's becoming more expensive as the supply declines," said Bently.
"It's up to us to change the system for the better," he said.
Bently Biofuels Co. is a member of the National Biodiesel Board. For more information about biodiesel, go to www.biodiesel.org.
For information about becoming part of the restaurant oil recycling program, e-mail at -- email address removed -- or call 783-0123.
What: Bently biodiesel plant open house
When: Sat. Jan. 7
Time to be announced
Info: 783-0123
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