Biodiesel Production Hands-on Classes:

-Beginners: Hands-on Crash Course: Operate Your Own Reactor format
-Advanced Topics: Hands-on Advanced Topics course on ethanol biodiesel,
farm-scale biodiesel production, methanol recovery, high-FFA oils,
processing glycerine, and more

with Maria 'girl Mark' Alovert of biodieselcommunity.org and coinstructors
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Marietta, OH Biodiesel Production Crash Course Jan 17-18

Fayetteville, TN Biodiesel Production Crash Course Feb 28-Mar 1


Mifflinburg, PA (with Preston Boop of Briar Patch Organic Farms)
Crash Course: March 11-12
Advanced Topics: March 13-14


Edmund, OK (with Carl Shortt of okiebiofuel.com

Crash Course: Mar 26-27
Advanced Topics: March 28-29

Bartlett, NH- Biodiesel Crash Course April 4-5

Palmer, AK:
Crash Course: June 6-7 or June 11-12 (2 separate sessions)
Advanced Topics: June 13-14


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cost:
$95/$108/$140 depending on registration date- early registration discounts
available!

no one turned away for lack of funds


For more information and to register, please see www.girlmark.com/tour

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Biodiesel Production Crash Course:

This is a fast-paced class designed to quickly teach the skills needed
for safely making high quality biodiesel, using a unique and truly
hands-on format. Students will 'learn by doing' by making their own
5-gallon batches of biodiesel from beginning to end. There is also an
opportunity to build your own full-size reactor to take home for those
who purchase a parts kit in advance.

Students will spend one day learning basic theory, practicing
titration, making mini-batches, and learning quality testing. The
second day is devoted to solidifying the theory you just learned, by
making biodiesel in realistic "Processor Stations', practicing every
step used in a full-size home biodiesel production system. Student
teams will operate realistic, tabletop 5-gallon processor systems- a
miniature version of the common Appleseed Processor/wash tank/dry tank
found around the world- and the tabletop reactor will familiarize them
with every valve, tank, pump, switch, and interconnect that would be
found in a full-size system. The goal of the class format is to take
the hands-on learning experience a big step beyond the '1-liter
mini-batch' equipment used in most biodiesel classes. There will also
be a full-size reactor system on a trailer at the class, including GL-1
and pot still-type methanol recovery systems.

Background for Crash Course class:

In most biodiesel workshops (including my own Biodiesel Essentials),
"hands-on time" usually means a few hours of lab work involving titration
and shaking 1-liter soda bottle batches, or, at best, a demonstration by
the instructor of some pre-arranged steps in a full-size reactor,
performed once, with the students just watching. Neither of these is an
ideal learning method for the complexity involved in using a 'real'
biodiesel reactor on your own for the first time at home. People who are
hands-on learners sometimes need more time on "realistic" equipment
operation in addition to the 1-liter shaken soda bottle batch method.

Operating your own processors in class would be more realistic than
1-liter glassware batches. Operating a full system can also make it easier
to understand equipment choices that face you as you design your own home
system after the class, or help decide on one to purchase.


Format:
In the crash course, you will first learn the basic theory using a
standard one-day mini-batch class, then spend the next day actually
operating (with a team of 5-8) your own 'realistic' 5-gallon mini-reactor
and processing system. You and your team will make decisions and mistakes,
with constant personalized guidance to ensure that you understand why
every step is done as well as when.


Equipment Building (Crash Course class):
We can also build some processors at the end of the Crash Course, for
those students who wish to purchase a parts kit and water heater tank in
advance. This is not mandatory and everyone can help build the systems.


Preparation and reading:

Because this is a fast-paced class, it is highly recommended that you
purchase, ahead of time, an inexpensive mini-titration/test batch kit from
www.utahbiodieselsupply.com and try to make and wash a soda-bottle test
batch, using storebought, new oil, before the class. This is not mandatory
but the preparation will enhance your class experience.

To make the class run smoothly and so that you get the most out of it,
please read the www.biodieselcommunity.org website before the class, so
that you have some idea of the basic process. Copies of Biodiesel Homebrew
Guide will also be available for sale fpr $15 at the class:
www.localb100.com/book.html , and there will be a short handout with some
basic formulas for later reference.

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Advanced Topics Biodiesel Production Hands-on Class:

The advanced class is designed for those who already make biodiesel
(full-scale or test batches) or have attended hands-on workshops by
teachers such as Jennifer Radtke, John Bush, Steve Fugate, BioLyle
Rudensey, Will Taygan, Carl Shortt, Piedmont Biofuels, Matt Steiman,
Frankie Lind, Kalib Kersch, or others who teach from the
http://biodieselcommunity.org techniques (check with me if a class is
your only hands-on experience).

I encourage experienced biodiesel producers to bring a presentation or
photos of their system and discuss their experiences.

This class is geared to both homebrewers and fleet/farm/small commercial
producers.

The class covers a wide range of topics, geared especially towards larger
scale 'home' production. The class specifically offers heavy hands-on
focus on making biodiesel with several major techniques that are useful in
your "skillset":

working with high-free-fatty-acid oil

working with high-water feedstocks

acidulating glycerine and wash water for easier disposal and cost savings

testing biodiesel, glycerine, and wash water for soap

producing biodiesel from oils recovered from glycerine

acid-catalyzed esterification options

methanol recovery from biodiesel (GL-1 process) and glycerine.

using glycerine as a solvent in various stages of the process

There will be an extensive hands-on section of the class devoted to
techniques for making biodiesel using ethanol instead of methanol, and we
will discuss small-scale fuel ethanol production.

We will also discuss water-free soap removal such as the use of the GL-1
process and ion exchange resins.


For more information and to register, please see www.girlmark.com/tour


Significant discount for early registration are available for those
registering before Dec 31