Proceedings of the 7th Symposium on Analytical and Environmental Problems [antikvár]

Proc 7I' Syinp. on Analytical Environmental Problems, SZAB, Szeged, 2 October 2000, pp. 5-8 biodiesel - clean plantoil, what is the best ? Niels Otto Pederscn, Angyal Gabriella Skamriis Development ApS, Denmark, E-mail: niels-mbi(a).set2nel. dk We met many people during our visit, who regrettably thought that biodiesel and clean plantoil was the same. We stressed the fact each time, that it is not, and tried to explain the major differences. It also seems that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development has started a project to produce Biodiesel, which will fit into every diesel-engine without any or very little change, and that is the big advantage. Biodiesel (called RME=rapsmethylester) is plantoil, where the glycerin is replaced by methyl alcohol through a chemical process with a catalyst, which has to be removed later. Glycerin is now a waste project, and the production has to be central because the chemical factory is expensive to built. This means more transport to the factory, but clean plant oil production could be much more decentrally made at small farm pressing strations, close to fields and to the consumers. RME is poisonous and flammable at 125 °C and has to be treated with the same care as with petrol and diesel, where clean plantoil spilled on the ground does no harm and it is flammable at 325 °C. RME is preferred by the established car industry, because they do not have to change anything in their engines, but the fuel has to be changed in all future. By using clean plant oil, you must adjust your engine and then you can run on a natural product for the lifetime of your car.It should be clear that We believe that RME is a dead end, especially from an environmental point of view, but We also know that RME is supported by a big lobby and has probably come to stay. However, the two fuels do not exclude one another, and maybe they can live together side by side and both be developed and improved in the future. The Elsbett-technology The technology was founded by Dr. Ludwig Elsbett (b. 1913), who was a former motor engineer at Junkers and at MAN AG. During the years he has developed the plantoil engine, which has had major impacts in local areas in mostly southern Germany, where villages are self-supplying with heating and electricity with big plant oil engines. The oilcake is (after pressing) given to the animals, and some of the oil is used for tractors, machines and car and lorries as well. In Germany you can fill up your car with plantoil at about 35 gas stations. Elsbetts sons Günther and Klaus are now running the business. More than 1.200 cars have now built in an Elsbett engine, but since this number is not enough for a big production, and since none of the big car-factories has shown any interest in the ideas, the handbuilt engine has stayed relatively expensive. A technology to modify diesel-engines to run on plantoil was invented instead. This can be done for about 15-20% (or even less) of the price of a new engine. The engine does not have to be opened, but with relatively few changes like new injection-pistons, new fuel hoses, two fibers, heat exchanger and some electronic control, the car can run on plant oil (or diesel). The Elsbetts are pioneers in this technology, where they try to adjust the engines to a natural product and not vice-versa. About filling up with „second hand" plantoil from restaurants and cafeterias, Klaus Elsbett answered that you first have to clean it from fat and other particles. A big problem is salt, which has to be removed. He added that the plantoil at gas stations in Germany is only taxed with VAT.