News for Spring 2009

Greetings from the WVU Biodiesel Project. If this is the first time you have visited our blog, welcome!

This semester has been very busy for the Project. We have seen vast enthusiasm from some new members (one even runs his truck on B100!) who are helping push the Project forward; we also have talked with a Managing Director of an alternative fuels company from Japan about a new process for producing biodiesel, reportedly completing the reaction without any bi-products; finally, we also held a lab where we invited WVU's Media Services and Photography Services in to document the show.

Dr. Brian Anderson, the Project's faculty advisor, filters off some glycerin while Scott Lituchy, from WVU's Media Services, captures the action.

Media services shot and produced a video of the "Make Biodiesel Lab" which you can CLICK HERE to see. A big thanks goes out to Scott Lituchy for videoing the event and editing the footage.

Overall, the lab was a great success. To see a photo tour of the lab, you can visit our photos HERE, and also see Dan Friend of WVU's Photography Services's spectacular photos HERE.

A big thanks goes out to Dan Friend, Scott Lituchy, Sarah Gould, and Dr. Anderson for their wonderful additions to the lab.

Would you like us to hold another lab here at WVU? If so, please post "YES" in the comments of this post.

Until next time,

-Adam Johnson
WVU Biodiesel Project Publicist
http://wvubiodieselproject.blogspot.com

ps- Our .wvu.edu website will soon be up. Stay tuned for the launch.

Spring 2009 Goals

We finally have what appears to be sufficient funds to begin building a processor! So, this semester will be very busy. That means that it was a good idea to make "specific" goals for the coming months:

• Meet SEI Grant by end of January
• Submit SGA grant by early February
• Create an advising committee to help oversee construction: Partially assembled by or before construction is underway and after we meet with grant committee.

• Controls Engineer---EE dept., Dr. Zondlo, or Amanda may be capable of doing this quite well (she is a computer guru).
• Secure area for operation: By end of January (we have an area to build a skid; however, we need a permanent spot).
• Clement Solomon-follow-up to meet with West Virginia University's sustainability coordinator by February 15th.
• Equipment ordered: End of February
• Construction: Through March
• Basic process built and operable: MAY '09
• Testing procedures for sampling: May '09
• SOPs (standard operating procedures) in place by summer of 09'
• Controls for system by fall of 09'

Woah! How is that for progress?

-Patty Sefton

Call us!

Give us a call by either using the utility to the right, in our sidebar, labeled "Call Me", or by dialing 304 - 903 - 4136. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the WVU Biodiesel Project.

-Adam Johnson
WVU Biodiesel Project Publicist
This number has been registered with the National Do Not Call Registry to avoid unnecessary and off-topic solicitation.