Advanced BioFuels USA

by Michelle Beckford (go-Jamaica.com/University of Technology, Jamaica)  The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja.) and Elhydro Limited on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise collaboration in biodiesel production and research.  The MoU agreement signed by UTech, Jamaica President, Professor Stephen Vasciannie and Elhydro Limited President, Mr. Phillip Scott, will involve continuous research and development to identify and design innovative techniques for advancing biodiesel and Castor plant production and usage.

Professor Vasciannie noted that “we anticipate that research outputs from this partnership will be beneficial not just for domestic use, but also for the pharmaceutical, agricultural and other industries that rely on energy from petroleum diesel.  Such benefits can only be advanced with the knowledge gained from evidenced-based scientific research and inquiry,” the President said.

President, Elhydro, inventor and entrepreneur Phillip Scott’s New York based company manufactures, supplies and distributes industrial lubricants, fluids, greases, oils, chemicals and natural gases. Scott noted that the collaboration between Elhydro and UTech, Jamaica will create opportunities for “accessing less expensive and more reliable renewable energy sources that are essential to Jamaica’s achievement of energy sustainability.”

UTech, Jamaica and Elhydro Limited  based on shared interest in biodiesel research and production were brought together by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) to have meaningful discussions on the Medium Scale Castor-based Biodiesel Processing and B5 (5% Biodiesel: 95% Diesel blend) Validation to be funded by Elhydro.

Areas of collaboration and mutual interest are not limited to the production of B5 from domestically produced feedstock in the short term but will include the subsequent phase of higher Biodiesel blends such as B20/30 as well as continuous research and development to identify and design innovative techniques for the advancement in Biodiesel production and usage in areas such as:

1. The extraction and processing of Castor oil, Waste Vegetable Oils (WVO), and Meat/Chicken fats to biofuels to meet the ASTM D6751 and/or European EN 14214 fuel testing standards.
2. Biodiesel application in Diesel engines which has many important technical advantages over conventional diesel such as lubricity, low toxicity, superior flash point, negligible sulphur content and lower exhaust emissions.
3. Bi-products production, e.g. Fertilizer meal, Glycerine and Pharmaceuticals.

The project at UTech, Jamaica is being spearheaded by the Faculty of Engineering and Computing. Dean of the Faculty, Professor Nilza Aples thanked the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) for brokering arrangements for collaboration between the University and Elhydro Limited.  “This partnership will accelerate the energy agenda for Jamaica,” she affirmed, adding that UTech, Jamaica is willing to pursue further partnerships with government, industry and academia to advance Jamaica’s National Energy Policy goal for twenty per cent of the country’s energy mix coming from renewable sources by the year 2030.  READ MORE