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AOCS Industrial Oil Products Division
Newsletter September 2008

Request for Newsletter Articles, Announcements, and Other Relevant Information
Rafael Hernandez

My research is focused on biofuels, specifically the discovery of new feedstocks and processes to produce biofuels, such as biodiesel and green diesel. However, I would like the newsletter to include information relevant to all division members. I am requesting articles on the use of fats and oils to produce, in addition to biofuels, lubricants, coatings, polymers, paints, inks, cosmetics, dielectric fluids, additives, and any other suitable applications. I am also requesting information related to job openings, IOP industry news, people in IOP businesses, article reviews/comments, and other information relevant to AOCS IOP members. Please send the information to newsletter editor Bryan Moser.

Included in this newsletter is a summary of the article titled "Water Implications to Biofuels Production in the United States" and a critical comment on the article titled "A petroleum industry perspective on biofuels integration." Both articles appeared in the February issue of inform.

"Water implications to biofuels production in the United States" (AOCS member login required) was prepared by the National Research Council (NRC). It establishes the potential conflicts between the growth of the biofuels industry and water quality and availability. It is usually assumed that biofuels are good for the environment. These fuels are produced from renewable materials, and reduce net carbon dioxide emissions, as well as emissions of other gases associated with pulmonary illnesses. However, the NRC article indicates that production of biofuels at the levels necessary to minimize oil imports from foreign countries and enhance U.S. National Security may significantly increase the use of water pesticides and nutrients. Another factor that may adversely impact the environment and the sustainability of biofuels is soil erosion. The article provides several technical and policy suggestions to minimize the impact of the growth of the biofuels market.

Another article related to biofuels is "A petroleum industry perspective on biofuels integration" (AOCS member login required). This article is authored by Mr. J. Scott Susich, a senior partner at Energy Management Institute. Mr. Susich indicates that the biodiesel and petroleum industries should be more supportive of each other. It is mentioned that the biodiesel industry should support the efforts of ConocoPhillips to produce renewable diesel from chicken fat. These efforts "will open the doors for a set of standards for the safe shipment and integration of bio/renewable diesel that can be adopted nationwide," said Mr. Susich. This statement implies that renewable diesel is different from petroleum diesel. The fact is that, in contrast to biodiesel, renewable diesel does not contain any new molecules compared to petroleum diesel and it would not need new standards to be transported via pipeline.

Rafael Hernandez
Assistant Professor
Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering at
Mississippi State University

Do you have news that would be of interest to members of the Industrial Oil Products Division? If so, please let Bryan Moser know at Bryan.Moser@ars.usda.gov or call him at 309-681-6511.

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Also in this newsletter:

A Word from the Newsletter Editor, by Bryan Moser

A Word from the IOP Vice Chairman, by Kenneth Doll

Call for Assistance: 100th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, by Kenneth Doll

Upcoming Short Courses Related to Industrial Oil Products

Industrial Applications of Renewable Resources: A Conference on Biobased Technologies

Celebrating 100 Years! 1909-2009

Soybeans: Chemistry, Production, Processing, and Utilization
AOCS Monograph Series on Oilseeds, Volume 2

 

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