In
1979 Dr. Charles Peterson was asked if vegetable oil could be used as a diesel fuel extender
Dr. Peterson bought some cooking oil at a local grocery store and
Launched the research that led to the commercialization of an environmentally friendly fuel that can run diesel engines. Dr.
Peterson's research began with looking at raw vegetable oil as a diesel fuel substitute. "If we can continue the research
over the long term
We will be able to use vegetable oil in diesel engines." One of the test engines was a 52 horsepower Ford diesel tractor
Which Dr.
Peterson and his lab assistant Joe Thompson displayed and operated at county fairs and agricultural events throughout
Idaho. Short term tests with vegetable oil were positive, but long-term tests led to issues with engine deposits,
ring sticking, injector cooking and the thickening of lubricating oil.
Investigation soon began on transesterification, the chemical process to make biodiesel.
The early decision was made to find a fuel that did not require an engine modification to run. Between 1982 and 1992,
several types of engines were tested in the lab and those that ran on biodiesel always looked cleaner than the engine that ran on 100%
diesel fuel. In 1992 biodiesel road tests began. Onboard fuel mixing
tanks were mounted on a
1993 Ford F250 and a 1992 Dodge Ram. The Ford ran on 80%
diesel and 20% raw vegetable oil. The Dodge ran the same blend
but used biodiesel. The Dodge engine was sent to the manufacturer Cummins in Columbus,
Indiana for inspection where its condition was found to be as good or better than the expectation for diesel fuel. In
1994 a new Dodge truck that ran on 100% biodiesel was taken on a coast-to-coast road trip while carrying the
320 gallons of biodiesel it needed. While in Washington, DC the drivers of the truck met with legislators to educate them about biodiesel.
The engine was inspected after
100,000 miles further convincing manufacturers that biodiesel was a good fuel. Much of Chuck's research work in the 90's was on the
environmental impact of biodiesel
He did or had studies done on everything from biodiesel biodegradability to fish and bear impact studies.
But the biggest discovery was that using biodiesel would significantly reduce harmful emissions
compared with petroleum-based diesel fuel. "Vegetable oil is still more expensive than diesel so you have to identify areas where
biodiesel is
has enough other benefits that will make it useful,
such as its biodegradability, its environmental benefits." In
1995 the university of Idaho introduced biodiesel into Yellowstone National Park,
making it the first national park to use biodiesel.
Within a few years the park decided to use a
20% blend of biodiesel in all of its vehicles including tour buses and snow removal equipment.
Based on Yellowstone's success many national parks now use biodiesel blends in their fleets.
The university then conducted a two hundred thousand mile operational demonstration with a semi-truck. This project marked the first
biodiesel cooperative effort between
private industry and federal and state government. The semi-truck used a 50% blend of biodiesel made from used french fry oil
that was reacted with ethanol.
Kenworth donated the truck and Caterpillar donated the two engines
one for the semi and one to do emissions testing.
Simplot also provided the ethanol made from potato waste at their plant and provided an area for the university to make the fuel in Caldwell,
then used the truck for the two hundred thousand mile test on one of their normal operation routes. Interest in biodiesel was clearly growing. In
2001 Dr. Peterson recruited Dr. Brian He to help with biodiesel research, then co-chaired the international conference
Bioenergy
2002. In
2003 the USDA entrusted the University of Idaho with the National Biodiesel Education Program
which continues to this day. In 2004 Dr. Dev Shrestha and Dr.
Jon Van Gerpen, the leader in biodiesel research, were recruited to the biodiesel program. Dr. Van Gerpen
developed and taught a 5-day biodiesel workshop program
and traveled extensively helping to develop biodiesel plants around
the world. Today research and education still continues at the University. The biodiesel lab makes
biodiesel from used cooking oil on campus which runs a 2001 TDI Volkswagen, the BioBug, and a 1999 Dodge.
The University of Idaho looks forward to future years as pioneers and biodiesel.