Biodiesel from coffee grounds

[mrchaotica]

I just saw this on Slashdot. Discuss.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-12/acs-wcg121008.php

 

[Joe_Meehan]

In theory you can make diesel from any organic material. In most cases it consumes more energy than it is worth. I doubt if this one will be any different.

 

[Ted Hurst]

I'll take a triple Bio-Latte made with high fat coffee grounds please.

 

[nicklockard]

Hot diggity. My car needs some caffeine. Gimme some.

 

[Fahrfuwerfuelen]

Considering how much Starbucks charges for a cup of coffee, I suspect used grounds converted to biodiesel would cost about $10 for a 12oz. cup.

 

[velociT]

I can see starbucks weirdos buying lattes to put in their car.

 

[conejo_a_cuatro]

I don't think I'll have any trouble finding spent coffee grounds around here. I'm waiting for the How-To.

 

[heno]

We should probably start off with Folgers coffee grounds. Once your engine got a taste for Starbucks there'd be no going back!!

 

[midntdi]

my question is how different (other than smell) are the characteristics to this... things like hydrophillia, it it swellls the IP o-rings and the actual cost of production, if its energy intensive but cheaper to make isnt that a good thing? I mean its not like they are using fresh coffee. It also begs the question what else can Bio-D be made from that we havent thought of yet?

 

[nicklockard]

Just think how much faster the car will run in the mornings.

 

[UFO]

my question is how different (other than smell) are the characteristics to this... things like hydrophillia, it it swellls the IP o-rings and the actual cost of production, if its energy intensive but cheaper to make isnt that a good thing? I mean its not like they are using fresh coffee. It also begs the question what else can Bio-D be made from that we havent thought of yet?

"Bio-D" can be made from any triglyceride. Once methyl or ethyl-esters are formed, the main characteristics of the fuel are similar. Cold temperature and oxidation qualities may vary, but materials compatibility is unlikely to change. I've noticed biodiesels tend to smell the same regardless of feedstock, unlike burning the vegetable oil straight

 

[snookmeister]

and the exhaust smells like coffee

Considering how much Starbucks charges for a cup of coffee, I suspect used grounds converted to biodiesel would cost about $10 for a 12oz. cup.

Less than that, according to the NYT article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/science/16objava.html?ref=science

 

[coyotlviejo]

I wonder how the straight oil would perform in an SVO system? Sounds enticing!

Dan

 

[VWannabe]

The exhaust smell alone might be worth it.

 

[N_J]

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf802487s?prevSearch=&searchHistoryKey=

 

[Mike in Anchorage]

So, UFO, should I ask my doc to filter the excess triglycerides out of my blood to make BD? It seems I once again could use my personal energy for other uses. d;=)