Waste Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel Conversion for Institutional Vehicular Applications

Waste Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel Conversion for Institutional Vehicular Applications PDF Author: David Elliot Frank
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biodiesel fuels
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
"Biodiesel is a renewable, sustainable, clean-burning biogenic fuel that can serve as a substitute for conventional ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). Biodiesel is comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids and is produced via transesterification, whereby glycerin is separated from the fatty acid component of either an oil or fat. The full process yields the fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel fuel) and glycerin, an economically valuable by-product. As part of a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Showcase Communities Grant to Monroe County, New York and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) was engaged to develop a closed-loop biodiesel production process system using the food service waste cooking oil stocks. Because the waste oil feedstock supply and fuel demand are internal within the institution, the system dynamics, economic feasibility, and environmental benefits versus the incumbent ultra-low sulfur diesel can be effectively quantified. Along with establishing quantitative metrics associated with quality of the fuel itself, the main goal of this part of a broader research program included utilizing the biodiesel fuel for campus vehicular applications. Ultimately, developing a robust waste-to-energy process within the system boundaries of the institution is the desired outcome, along with economic valuation, emissions testing, fuel quality metrics and standardization, life cycle assessment, and energy return on investment for the university's stakeholders. Through the execution of this project, two successful biodiesel batches were produced which met American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) quality standards for vehicle use. Lower heating value (LHV) measurement demonstrated comparable embodied energy content to earlier published data. In addition, cloud point measurements were taken to understand the performance of the fuel in cold weather conditions, and these metrics were also consistent with published data for biodiesel fuels. Through direct measurements of exhaust gas composition, overall reductions in greenhouse gas emissions were observed in two test vehicles. However, consistent with published data, there is evidence that emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx) may be higher with a 20% biodiesel blend (B20), depending on the specific vehicle and the type of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve technology employed. According to a life cycle assessment conducted on the closed-loop biodiesel production process, the cumulative energy demand (CED) was 752 MJ/100 km and the global warming potential (GWP) was 80.6 kg CO2-eq./100 km. Crude oil-based diesel contributes the most to the energy and environmental impact to the total combustion CED and GWP of a B20 fuel mixture, while the methanol component contributes the greatest energy and environmental impact to just the biodiesel component. The energy return on investment (EROI) was determined to vary depending on specific waste oil properties and processing conditions, with a value of 4.16 determined to be most representative of the developed conversion process. This demonstrates that waste cooking oil biodiesel production at RIT is net energy positive, and thus can reasonably contribute to the University's renewable energy and GHG emissions reduction goals. The closed-loop biodiesel process also presented a compelling economic case, with a total computed cost of $3.35/gallon (including a conservative estimate for production labor) well lower than the reported national prices of B100 at retail market."-Abstract.

Waste Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel Conversion for Institutional Vehicular Applications

Waste Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel Conversion for Institutional Vehicular Applications PDF Author: David Elliot Frank
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biodiesel fuels
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
"Biodiesel is a renewable, sustainable, clean-burning biogenic fuel that can serve as a substitute for conventional ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). Biodiesel is comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids and is produced via transesterification, whereby glycerin is separated from the fatty acid component of either an oil or fat. The full process yields the fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel fuel) and glycerin, an economically valuable by-product. As part of a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Showcase Communities Grant to Monroe County, New York and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) was engaged to develop a closed-loop biodiesel production process system using the food service waste cooking oil stocks. Because the waste oil feedstock supply and fuel demand are internal within the institution, the system dynamics, economic feasibility, and environmental benefits versus the incumbent ultra-low sulfur diesel can be effectively quantified. Along with establishing quantitative metrics associated with quality of the fuel itself, the main goal of this part of a broader research program included utilizing the biodiesel fuel for campus vehicular applications. Ultimately, developing a robust waste-to-energy process within the system boundaries of the institution is the desired outcome, along with economic valuation, emissions testing, fuel quality metrics and standardization, life cycle assessment, and energy return on investment for the university's stakeholders. Through the execution of this project, two successful biodiesel batches were produced which met American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) quality standards for vehicle use. Lower heating value (LHV) measurement demonstrated comparable embodied energy content to earlier published data. In addition, cloud point measurements were taken to understand the performance of the fuel in cold weather conditions, and these metrics were also consistent with published data for biodiesel fuels. Through direct measurements of exhaust gas composition, overall reductions in greenhouse gas emissions were observed in two test vehicles. However, consistent with published data, there is evidence that emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx) may be higher with a 20% biodiesel blend (B20), depending on the specific vehicle and the type of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve technology employed. According to a life cycle assessment conducted on the closed-loop biodiesel production process, the cumulative energy demand (CED) was 752 MJ/100 km and the global warming potential (GWP) was 80.6 kg CO2-eq./100 km. Crude oil-based diesel contributes the most to the energy and environmental impact to the total combustion CED and GWP of a B20 fuel mixture, while the methanol component contributes the greatest energy and environmental impact to just the biodiesel component. The energy return on investment (EROI) was determined to vary depending on specific waste oil properties and processing conditions, with a value of 4.16 determined to be most representative of the developed conversion process. This demonstrates that waste cooking oil biodiesel production at RIT is net energy positive, and thus can reasonably contribute to the University's renewable energy and GHG emissions reduction goals. The closed-loop biodiesel process also presented a compelling economic case, with a total computed cost of $3.35/gallon (including a conservative estimate for production labor) well lower than the reported national prices of B100 at retail market."-Abstract.

Waste Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel Conversion for Space Heating Applications

Waste Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel Conversion for Space Heating Applications PDF Author: Daniel J. Bruton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biodiesel fuels
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
"Transesterification is a process that converts triglycerides, like vegetable oil, into fatty acid methyl esters, commonly known as biodiesel. This conversion reaction requires the triglyceride feedstock, an alcohol, and an alkali-catalyst to produce the biodiesel. Biodiesel is a versatile biofuel that is renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally beneficial in the sense that combustion adds only biogenic carbon to the atmosphere. The main limitation of commercialization of biodiesel is cost. However, developing closed-loop systems that have an available triglyceride supply, such as waste cooking oil, as well as demand for diesel based fuels, can achieve substantial emissions reductions and energy avoidance, while simultaneously solving a waste disposal issue. Thus, an analysis of the development of a closed-loop waste cooking to biodiesel fuel production process is warranted. A waste-to-energy (WtE) system like this offers great potential to institutions. Thus, this analysis includes the development of a waste cooking oil to biodiesel fuel program utilizing the available waste cooking oil of a university, the production of the fuel, the internal use of the fuel, and subsequent analysis of the fuel characteristics, emissions, and the life cycle environmental and energy impacts of the production process and ultimate use. The results show that the waste cooking oil derived biodiesel meets the required American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard specifically for biodiesel, ASTM D6751. The produced biodiesel was blended with commercially available fuel oil, which met the ASTM specification D396-13b. Therefore, a blend of these two ASTM compliant fuels also met the required ASTM standards. The ASTM standards require high quality fuel characteristics and ensure proper utilization and combustion. Biodiesel blended heating fuels were utilized in two distinct heating facilities, both showing comparable emissions to conventional fuel oil. Small (500 mL) and large (1L) volume biodiesel blends were utilized in a conventional residential furnace. Emissions data were obtained through the exhaust ducting with a combustion gas analyzer. The same fuel blends were utilized in a lab-scale burner apparatus without a heat exchanger, which enabled near-flame interrogation and visualization of the combustion process. The emissions of both heating facilities were comparable to the incumbent fuel oil. The life cycle assessment results demonstrate the benefits of increasing the approved blends of biodiesel heating fuels. Currently, most oil burners are only approved up to a B5 blend (5% biodiesel, 95% fuel oil). The results show higher blends achieve substantial life cycle reduction in global warming potential and cumulative energy demand, as well as an energy return on investment of above 4, indicating more energy is obtained from the fuel than required to produce it."--Abstract.

Sustainable Food Waste-to-Energy Systems

Sustainable Food Waste-to-Energy Systems PDF Author: Thomas Trabold
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128111585
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Book Description
Sustainable Food Waste-to-Energy Systems assesses the utilization of food waste in sustainable energy conversion systems. It explores all sources of waste generated in the food supply chain (downstream from agriculture), with coverage of industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sources. It provides a detailed analysis of the conventional pathways for food waste disposal and utilization, including composting, incineration, landfilling and wastewater treatment. Next, users will find valuable sections on the chemical, biochemical and thermochemical waste-to-energy conversion processes applicable for food waste and an assessment of commercially available sustainable food waste-to-energy conversion technologies. Sustainability aspects, including consideration of environmental, economic and social impacts are also explored. The book concludes with an analysis of how deploying waste-to-energy systems is dependent on cross-cutting research methods, including geographical information systems and big data. It is a useful resource for professionals working in waste-to-energy technologies, as well as those in the food industry and food waste management sector planning and implementing these systems, but is also ideal for researchers, graduate students, energy policymakers and energy analysts interested in the most recent advances in the field. - Provides guidance on how specific food waste characteristics drive possible waste-to-energy conversion processes - Presents methodologies for selecting among different waste-to-energy options, based on waste volumes, distribution and properties, local energy demand (electrical/thermal/steam), opportunities for industrial symbiosis, regulations and incentives and social acceptance, etc. - Contains tools to assess potential environmental and economic performance of deployed systems - Links to publicly available resources on food waste data for energy conversion

Advances in Biodiesel Production

Advances in Biodiesel Production PDF Author: R Luque
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0857095862
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
Biodiesel is one of the main biofuels capable of substituting fossil fuel usage in compression ignition vehicles, and is used in a variety of fuel blends worldwide. First-generation biodiesel has been used in national markets for some time, with fuel quality standards in place for this purpose. There remain, however, several restrictions to sustainable and long term market development, which is influenced by many factors, including food vs. fuel pressures. The development of new generations of biodiesel, aimed at more sustainable and effective feedstock utilisation alongside improved production efficiency and fuel quality, is critical to the future both of this industry and of the continuing use of biodiesel fuels in transportation.This book provides a timely reference on the advances in the development of biodiesel fuels, production processes and technologies. Part one reviews the life cycle sustainability assessment and socio-economic and environmental policy issues associated with advanced biodiesel production, as well as feedstocks and fuel quality standards. This coverage is extended in Part two, with chapters focussing on the development of methods and catalysts essential to the improvement and optimisation of biodiesel production processes and technologies.With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Advances in biodiesel production a standard reference for chemical, biochemical and industrial process engineers, as well as scientists and researchers in this important field. - Provides a timely reference on the advances in the development of biodiesel fuels, production processes and technologies - Reviews the life cycle sustainability assessment and socio-economic and environmental policy issues associated with advanced biodiesel production, as well as feedstocks and fuel quality standards - Discusses the development of methods and catalysts essential to the improvement and optimisation of biodiesel production processes and technologies

Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels: A Do-It-Yourself Manual

Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels: A Do-It-Yourself Manual PDF Author: Jon Starbuck
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071600442
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 251

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Book Description
CONVERT TO BIODIESEL FOR A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY RIDE Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels has everything you need to make the switch from expensive, environment-damaging carbon fuel to cheap (and, in many cases, free), clean fuel for your vehicle. Practical and decidedly apolitical, this unique guide focuses on technical details, parts, and instructions. Inside, you'll find step-by-step instructions accompanied by helpful illustrations for such projects as building and properly using a homemade biodiesel reactor, which enables you to drive you car on vegetable oil purchased at a fraction of the price of gas or even on second-hand oil obtained from restaurants free of charge. Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels also includes a list of international parts suppliers and various manufacturers' warranty statuses regarding vehicles converted to biodiesel. Projects include: Collecting waste oil Building a waste-oil processor Creating biodiesel fuel Converting your car to professional standards Constructing heat exchangers Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels covers: • History and functions of the diesel engine • Benefits of biofuel • Where to obtain raw ingredients • Theory of fuel conversion • Existing conversion kits o Blends, emulsions, and thinners • Processing and discarding waste oil • Laws and regulations • Green retail o Health and safety • Limitations of environmental benefits

Biorefinery Pathways for Institutional Food Waste

Biorefinery Pathways for Institutional Food Waste PDF Author: Shwe Sin Win
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Anaerobic bacteria
Languages : en
Pages : 283

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Book Description
"Every day, enormous quantities of nutritious food are wasted in landfills across the globe. Agriculture and food production use intensive amounts of water, chemicals, and land, rendering food waste as a major environmental and economic concern. New York State is currently considering legislation that would ban landfill disposal of food waste produced by large institutional generators, such as universities, hospitals, sports venues, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. Institutions have concentrated populations which generate predictable volumes of food waste and waste cooking oil. At the same time, these populations need heat, electricity, vehicle fuel, and soap. Developing a biorefinery system offers great potential to institutions and provides viable and sustainable utilization of various waste streams to generate energy via anaerobic digestion and biodiesel production process while simultaneously solving a waste disposal issue. However, the implementation of biorefinery systems at institutional food waste generators is just beginning, and data required to design the system and relevant case studies are very limited. Recognizing the urgent need to find alternatives for the diversion of food waste from landfills, this dissertation has provided the technical and economic viability of decentralized, onsite biorefinery systems at institutional generators with a specific focus on large institutions generating, on average, more than 1.8 metric tons of food waste per week (~91 t/year, equivalent to 100 short tons/year). The challenges and opportunities of these alternatives have also been considered in this dissertation. First, development of sustainable food waste management requires an integrated, interdisciplinary management structure which includes a good understanding of regional variations in food waste resources, waste treatment facilities and processing capacity in a specific geographic region. Currently, poor quality and unreliable data on food waste prohibits proceeding to efficient waste management. These scarcities of data have led to a call for further research. To identify the research gaps, Chapter 2 begins with an assessment of reliable data on the quantity and types of food waste produced, transport of waste to treatment facilities, location of existing waste treatment facilities, and the amount of wastes that could potentially be treated at these facilities. Regions 3 and 8, as defined by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), were chosen as case studies to the underlying challenges and potential opportunities. The information provided in this chapter can be an important resource for implementing future waste diversion strategies, and further indicate which policy attributes should be considered. In Chapter 3, an assessment was conducted of the technical challenges, economic feasibility and policy opportunities to adopt low-volume anaerobic digester (LVAD) systems, designated for deployment at the scale of an individual food waste generation site. Food waste generators often have much lower volumes of organic material available for conversion than dairy farms or public-owned treatment works (POTW). Small anaerobic digestion systems are not a new technology but have historically been implemented primarily in treating animal waste in developing countries. In the U.S., anaerobic digestion of food waste is usually achieved by co-digestion with dairy manure in centralized facilities, while food waste-only anaerobic digestion is still emerging and public data or case studies necessary to establish this as a potential food waste management pathway are lacking. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) was chosen as a case study to assess the viability of implementing an LVAD system utilizing campus organic waste. It was demonstrated that the LVAD approach is economically feasible only if several conditions are met: biogas is utilized directly for thermal energy applications, thereby eliminating the capital/operation/maintenance costs associated with electricity production; system capital cost is reduced to $500,000 or less; and available feedstock is increased to at least 900 t/year by importing food waste from neighboring generators and collecting associated tipping fees. Chapter 4 documents an investigation of various solution pathways available to utilize another important institutional food waste material: waste cooking oil (WCO). Institutions such as universities usually generate large amounts of waste cooking oil that can be suitable for production of biodiesel via the process of transesterification. The free fatty acid (FFA) content of waste cooking oil from institutional cafeterias is often lower than many other establishments (i.e., fast food restaurants), and thus has a greater value as a biodiesel feedstock, because the cooking oil replacement rate is often higher. The development of a closed-loop biodiesel production system, including utilization of crude glycerol as an ingredient for soap production, is compelling especially in a constrained system because the locations of WCO feedstock supply and biodiesel demand are in close proximity and controlled by a single entity. Biodiesel can be utilized by the RIT community in vehicles and other applications. Crude glycerol can be refined and used to produce soap of varying quality and has potential as a value-added product. Potentially, the soap could be used in cafeterias and bathrooms across campus and dining services. This study indicated that using waste cooking oil for biodiesel production at the institutional scale could only be viable by generating the revenue from the sale of biodiesel and offsetting the cost of high quality liquid soap at retail price. In Chapter 5, it was demonstrated that black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) could potentially reduce the amount of food waste needing to be landfilled in areas of concentrated generation, such as urban areas and institutions like universities and hospitals. BSFL have previously been used by home gardeners and large agricultural enterprises to transform food wastes and animal manures into feed for chickens or fish, while significantly reducing waste volumes. Bioconversion of food waste biomass with BSFL results in useful products such as protein rich insect biomass. This study demonstrated that bio-methane potentials (BMP) of BSFL were higher than the potential of food waste and manures and 1.5 to 2 times higher than other representative feedstocks, including energy crops and algae. In addition, the yield of biomass per hectare of land used is much higher. BSFL could therefore be a viable feedstock for biogas production or as part of an integrated biorefinery system, and as an effective bioresource solution for the global problem of food waste management. Finally, it is uncertain that an on-site low volume anaerobic digestion system at institutional generators is most economically and environmentally beneficial. Therefore, a model was developed to compare different potential food waste treatment scenarios: centralized anaerobic digestors (AD) at large confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), centralized AD at landfills, centralized AD at waste water treatments plants, and low volume anaerobic digesters (LVADs) at individual food waste generation sites. Chapter 6 presents an assessment of the optimal food waste conversion options for particular spatial distributions of food waste materials in two geographical regions of New York State. The assessment was based on three economic indicators, including net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and payback period (PP), to enable food system stakeholders to determine the most cost-effective food waste utilization strategy. The decision process considered was based on the availability of existing facilities (e.g., stand-alone AD, wastewater treatment plants with AD, and composting), available capacity of selected facilities, and available quantity of animal waste in each region. This assessment demonstrated that capital cost plays a significant role in achieving economic viability, and tipping fees are often the major sources of revenues for these treatment facilities. Without offset of the capital investment from government entities in the form of grants, the economic viability of new facilities is challenging. Therefore, diverting food waste to WWTPs with excess capacity was identified as an important option that showed the most profitable scenario without considering environmental incentives and renewable energy credits. This dissertation focused on economic implications of alternative food waste conversion options for institutional generators, through the integration of conversion technologies using different waste feedstocks in a decentralized, on-site biorefinery architecture. In this sense, the biorefinery model was presented as a potential alternative to centralized large scale-systems that utilize wastes from multiple sources, often including transport of waste over large distances. This concept aimed at maximizing the utilization of food waste in a manner that enables institutional generators to benefit from organic material they generate during normal operation. The findings from this dissertation provide valuable information to small-scale food processors and institutions that currently send their solid waste to landfills or incinerators, paying disposal charges or sending it to anaerobic digestion, usually involving transport costs and tipping fees. The method developed in this dissertation can be readily adapted by other institutions, and the information provided would assist entrepreneurs in achieving successful commercialization of small-scale food waste utilization systems."--Abstract.

Grown Fuel

Grown Fuel PDF Author: Paul Martin
Publisher: Grown Fuel
ISBN: 0646501461
Category : Biodiesel fuels
Languages : en
Pages : 26

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Book Description
"This practical, no nonsense guide to building your own biodiesel plant shows you how to turn any new or used fat or oil into quality diesel fuel. Biodiesel will run ANY diesel engine. Includes step by step easy instructions, recipes and diagrams to get you making your own biodiesel today... The methods detailed in this book have been proven over many years, with much trial, error and testing. All of the equipment shown in this manual is used to successfully make large quantities of biodiesel."--Back cover.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel PDF Author: Zhen Fang
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 9535109103
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 502

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Book Description
This book focuses on the development of biodiesel systems from the production of feedstocks and their processing technologies to the comprehensive applications of both by-products and biodiesel. It should be of interest for students, researchers, scientists and technologists.

Biodiesel - Feedstocks, Production and Applications

Biodiesel - Feedstocks, Production and Applications PDF Author: Sabbas Radley
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781681172194
Category : Biodiesel fuels
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that is creating jobs, improving fuel security and providing cleaner air for us to breathe. Biodiesel is commonly made from vegetable oils such as canola oil, animal fats (tallow) or recycled greases such as used cooking oil. Other feedstocks being developed include algae, pomgania trees, jatropha, camelina and dry land juncea. The feedstock containing the fatty acid is combined with alcohol which causes the condensation of water molecules, leaving behind the rich, pure fatty acids. The process used to convert these oils to Biodiesel is called transesterification. The largest possible source of suitable oil comes from oil crops such as rapeseed, palm or soybean. Most biodiesel produced at present is produced from waste vegetable oil sourced from restaurants, chip shops, industrial food producers such as Birdseye etc. Waste vegetable oil can often be sourced for free or sourced already treated for a small price. Biodiesel has many environmentally beneficial properties. The main benefit of biodiesel is that it can be described as carbon neutral. This means that the fuel produces no net output of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). Biodiesel is meant to be used in standard diesel engines and is thus distinct from the vegetable and waste oils used to fuel converted diesel engines. Biodiesel can be used alone, or blended with petrodiesel in any proportions. Biodiesel blends can also be used as heating oil. This book, Biodiesel - Feedstocks, Production and Applications, emphases on the advances of biodiesel systems from the production of feedstocks and their processing technologies to the comprehensive applications of both by-products and biodiesel. It will be of invaluable tool for academics, researchers, scientists and technologists.

How to Make Biodiesel

How to Make Biodiesel PDF Author: Dan Carter
Publisher: Low-Impact Living Initiative (Lili)
ISBN:
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
The contributors to this text cover the chemistry and practice of biodiesel production, supply of used cooking oil and other chemicals, vehicle consideration, environment agency and customs & excise, and plant design and construction using readily-available materials.