Joshua Tickell's Innovative Use of Vegetable Oil

By Melissa Brunner

Transesterification is a common word in Joshua Tickell's vocabulary. It explains the process of converting vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel. Tickell has been involved in this innovative way of making biodiesel fuel since 1996. He is famous for using biodiesel to power a "Veggie Van." The Veggie Van is a motor home that can go up to 70 mph and its exhaust even smells like french fries! The Veggie Van, which gets 25 miles per gallon, has driven across the United States several times for a grand total of 25,000 miles without any fuel-related engine problem.

The Veggie Van

Why are biofuels important? According to Tickell's book, From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank: The Complete Guide to Using Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Fuel, biofuels take only a couple of months for production compared to fossil fuels which take 40 million years to make. Biodiesel also has many advantages, as stated in Tickell's book.

Biodiesel:

• Is biodegradable (four-times faster than petroleum fuel).
• Is non-toxic (less toxic than table salt).
• Is able to restore the fuel lubricity (how the fuel lubricates the fuel system and engine) of diesel fuel.
• Is usable alone or mixed with diesel.
• Will not ignite or spontaneously explode.
• Unlike petroleum fuel, the exhaust from biodiesel will not emit lead, sulfur dioxide, or halogens.

Biodiesel's emissions, in comparison to petroleum fuels, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 100 percent, soot emissions by 40 to 60 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 10 to 50 percent, and hydrocarbon emissions by 10 to 50 percent.

Joshua Tickell making biodiesel using the "Green Grease Machine."

When Tickell makes biodiesel, it usually takes him about two hours. This includes one hour for the reaction, and the remainder for preparation and cleanup time. In order to make biodiesel, a few key ingredients are needed. These include: vegetable oil, either ethanol alcohol or methanol alcohol (more dangerous to use), and a catalyst - either sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). In the end, a gallon of homemade fuel costs Tickell only 50 cents as opposed to the average price of about $1.25 per gallon of diesel.

According to Tickell, there are over 3 billion gallons of cooking oil waste produced in the United States. This oil could be used to make biodiesel fuels instead of being illegally dumped, taken to landfills, or sold to Third World countries.

According to Tickell, biodiesel has been researched in at least 28 countries around the world. There are currently over 85 biodiesel production plants in 21 countries. Forty-five of these plants are in Western Europe and seven are in the United States. The biodiesel craze has started! German gas stations are selling biodiesel at the same price as, or even less than, regular diesel fuel.

One disadvantage of biodiesel is that it cannot be used in a car that runs on unleaded gasoline. It can only be used in a diesel engine- but no engine modifications are needed.

Joshua Tickell has a Web page with tons of interesting information about the Veggie Van, biodiesel, and his book. Check it out at http://www.veggievan.org/.

Melissa Brunner is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Journalism and Education regarding natural resources. She is an intern with the Wisconsin DNR. You can reach her at Mabrunner@students.wisc.edu.