APRIL 3 CONFERENCE: MAKING, USING BIODIESEL SAFELY ON SMALL SCALE

From: Media Relations

One pot burning diesel, the other burning biodiesel fuel
March 16, 2006

HARRISONBURG — Small-scale production and use of biodiesel fuel will be the focus of a statewide conference to be held at James Madison University Monday, April 3.

Demand for information about how to make and use the clean-burning petroleum alternative prompted the theme of the 2006 Virginia Biodiesel Conference, said Dr. C.J. Brodrick, co-director of the fuels diversification program at JMU and an assistant professor of integrated science and technology.

"We have so many farmers, hobbyists and schools calling JMU interested in making their own fuel," Brodrick said.

[A live Web cast of the biodiesel conference will be available from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. at http://media.jmu.edu/. An archive will be available for viewing on-demand shortly after the conclusion of the live event.]

JMU mixes biodiesel with regular diesel to fuel its fleet of facilities management vehicles. The university is starting to make some of the biodiesel it tests from used cooking oil produced at campus restaurants. Currently, the university purchases biodiesel locally. The City of Harrisonburg also mixes biodiesel with regular diesel to power city transit and school buses.

"While there is a lot of information on the Internet about how to make biodiesel, it lacks some of the most important information on safety," Brodrick said. "Also, it isn't always that easy to learn from a book and work alone.

"At our conference, attendees will see first-hand how to build and safely operate a vessel to convert waste vegetable oil and other oils into biodiesel fuel." They also will learn about the safe disposal of the chemicals and byproducts involved in making biodiesel.

"And, perhaps most importantly," Brodrick said, "they will meet others who are interested in small-scale production, and we will set up a communication network for them to exchange ideas and experiences."

Conference topics will include biofuels in agriculture, practical implementation, how a biodiesel reactor is made, fuel quality, safety considerations and commercial availability and use. The daylong conference also will feature a panel discussion on biodiesel use by local farmers.

More information about the conference, including the day's agenda, and how to register is available on the Web site at: http://www.cisat.jmu.edu/biodiesel/conference2006.html.

The $40 registration fee must be postmarked by March 25.

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