Oklahoma Biofuels

Introduction

Oklahoma, with its strong energy and agricultural foundation, can play a defining role in the development of biofuels. Oklahoma's universities and research institutions are working to increase feedstock yields and production efficiencies; private investors and communities are actively engaged in ethanol and biodiesel projects across the state; and the Legislature is working to enhance incentives for biofuels production and distribution.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce, through the Oklahoma State Energy Office, promotes the development of alternative energy by providing information, resources, and tools you can use to build plants, benefit from tax incentives, grow energy crops, or purchase biofuels for personal or fleet vehicles.

Biomass/Biofuel Basics

Biomass, the organic byproducts of food, fiber, and forest production, can be used to generate electricity, and it provides the only renewable alternative for liquid transportation fuel.

Biofuel is any fuel derived from biomass, which typically includes agricultural crops such as corn and soybeans. However, current research focuses on the use of cellulosic feedstock such as switchgrass, cornstalks, and paper pulp or wood chips. Biofuels include methanol, biocrude, and methane. Ethanol and biodiesel are the most common and easily produced.

Ethanol, the most widely used biofuel today, can be used as an alternative fuel or as an octane-boosting, pollution-reducing additive to gasoline. Ethanol is primarily produced from the starch contained in grains through a fermentation and distillation process that converts starch to sugar and then to alcohol.

Ethanol, the 100% pure ethanol coming from the production facility, blends with gasoline in varying quantities to reduce the consumption of petroleum fuels and lower air emissions. E10 , a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, can be used in most post-1983 vehicles. E85, a blend of 85% and 15% gasoline, can only be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).

Biodiesel, a renewable fuel used in diesel engines, biodiesel comes from plant or animal-based natural oils. Biodiesel is not the same thing as raw vegetable oil or unaltered used frying grease. It is precisely produced by a chemical process that removes the glycerin from the oil.

An accepted standard of biodiesel has been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a fuel and fuel additive and is approved for blending (up to 20%) by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). This standard, ASTM D 6751, is what should be produced and used in blends.

ASTM D 6751 in the pure form is called B100 and contains zero petroleum. Common blends include B5 (5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel) or B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel).