[biofuel] Conversion of Nissan UD truck for biodiesel
I recently purchased a New 1999 Nissan UD1800HD cab-forward diesel from a Nissan dealer in Arizona. I live in Anchorage, Alaska and there are no Nissan dealerships here. I contacted the National Nissan represenative who state that the truck is not compatible with biodiesel. I currently have the flatbed off the truck and it would be a good opportunity to change out the fuel hoses to something that is compatible. Here is my problem, no one seems to know what type of hoses are compatible with biodiesel. Some of the hoses are labeled and some are not. I have a call and an E-Mail into Goodyear to see if the Insta-Grip hose, ties in auxillary tank, is compatible. There does not seem to be any Viton fuel hose on the market. What type of diesel fuel filters work with biodiesel? The Nissan rep. also stated that these had rubber in them? Is all of this necessary if I am only going to be burning a 20% biodiesel in the fuel? Thanks, Rick Abbott Anchorage, Alaska - Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] Re: Lumpy BD
Keith, just a question. How are you doing the stir washing? Using the pump, or actually using a stirring mechanism? I saw the thread on what Todd was saying about pump washing and was interesed on if and how people are doing that. Thanks, James On Thu, 29 Jul 2004, Keith Addison wrote: snip I find that can get a bit gruelling, though it's a useful option to have. In moving house etc recently we didn't make any biod for a few weeks, and ended up with much more WVO than we like to have on hand, so I've been processing it steadily, one batch after another. But instead of having a batch in the settling tank and doing a second batch straight away to settle in the processor, I just have one batch in the settling tank. As soon as one of the two washing tanks is free, I transfer the (now settled) biod from the settling tank to that wash-tank, then process a new batch and settle it in the now-empty settling tank. This new batch will end up in the other wash-tank. This does a batch every two or three days, which is fast enough, and it's a lot more relaxed than handling two batches at once. This makes more use of the two wash-tanks than of the settling tank (it could just settle in the processor), but it staggers it nicely, so you're only dealing with one batch at a time rather than two. This is still with bubblewashing, by the way. We've used stir-washing quite a lot, but the two wash-tanks aren't properly set up for stirring yet. Next job. Or forthcoming job anyway. snip Best Keith Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[biofuel] Appleseed Biodiesel Reactor For Sale
Hello to all. I am a mechanical engineering/chemistry student at the University of Arizona. I will soon be accepting an exchange for at least one year to another University in a different part of the country. Due to space (dorm living) and other limitations, I would like to sell my current biodiesel project to someone who would make good use of it. I have just completed a 40 gallon Appleseed reactor made from a brand new hot water heater with the guidance of Girl Mark. I have only recently finished the reactorin fact, it has never been filled with anything other than water (for leak testing). The design is the now famous hot water heater based design using external piping and a circulating pump. The reactor is ready to begin processing. I also have a 55 gallon drum wash tank with an open top and internal standpipes which is ready to go but not yet leak tested. I will sell the reactor and wash tank for only the cost of the materials I put into it. Though I have not completely added this up yet, it will be right around $200 - $250 for everything you need (less chemicals) to make your biodiesel. I live in Tucson, Arizona. Pick-up/delivery options will have to be worked out with a buyer. I have transported both the reactor and the wash tank in my Volskwagen Golf (not at the same time) with only very minor disassembly, so this should not be a problem. I can provide digital photos of this equipment upon request. Everything is well built, piping is well taped, and easy to use. Please reply to [EMAIL PROTECTED] for personal questions that would not be of interest to the group (ie. logistical questions). Thank you, Brian __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[biofuel] Introduction - and Veg Oil Questions.
Hello All I am gathering information on the feasibility of converting a diesel car for using Vegetable Oil. I Just joined the ML, but I have been browsing the archive and searching on specific topics for a couple weeks. I have not always been able to find answers to questions, so I figured I would go ahead and post some of my major questions and see if anyone here wants to tackle them. Most likely someone already has, and can point me to the correct posts. 1) I have read that Biodiesel emissions are a bit higher in NOx than Dinodiesel . How do emissions change for vegetable Oil? I assume it would be similar to Biodiesel, but it is an assumption that someone has probably tested somewhere. How do these emissions compare with emissions from my 1999 Honda Civic (which Uses normal unleaded gasoline)? I have read that european institutiions have accepted the emmisions as reasonable (similar to bideisel), but what are the numbers? 2) How hard is Vegetable Oil on a Diesel engine? Does it reduce the operational life span of the engine? If so, How Much 3) Where can people purchase large multi-gallon quantities of vegetable oil? I am sure that folks running cars on new vegetable oil are not buying quarts from the local Safeway! I live in Eastern Washington State which is very agricultural, so I would expect I should be able to find a place near me, but I have no idea how to go about it! Those are the main questions for now. I intened to keep my eyes open in the coming years for the kind of vehicle I want, and when the opportunity presents itself, I will buy and try a conversion if I can find good sources of fuel. Using Biodiesel might also be an intersting future idea to explore, but I love the idea of using a fuel that does not need any harsh treatment to make it useable. Thanks in advance for any Michael __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[biofuel] Mayo style BD, was Westfalia Centrifuge for sale
When I was having this problem it came back to titration. I use a PH meter as I have found that solutions and papers aren't doing it for me, and so it takes a bit of getting used to but it works well. Another important factor is the scale you are using. Does it zero off the container you are putting the catalyst in so that the only numbers you get are the actual weight of the lye and not that of the container also? Improper titration will give unreacted oil as you will under estimate your need and, in my case, I got mayo that wouldn't break. http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make2.html#bettertitrate is the titration method I use and to test to see if what I have made is good fuel or just shiny unreacted oil, http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_vehicle.html#quality It works very well. You have to be a bit patient with PH meters, or at least in my case that is the way it is, as they tend to settle and if you have jumped the gun you will underevaluate your need for catalyst, which I did several times before getting it right. As far as the quality percentage of the methanol, it SHOULD be on the bottle somewhere, but if not, the company just has to have a website or toll free number you can call or visit or email or something. Of course you could simply change brand and see what gives. When I make a test batch I first titrate using the above mentioned method and divide by 4 like it says, but then I further divide by two as I only do 500ml batches further reducing the margin for error. I also use only lab graduated cylendars for measurements and a lab electronic scale too as I am completely innept at guesstimating or attempting to figure out which of the variables screwed up (when I do) so I wanted to eliminate as many of those variables as possible, hense all the lab grade stuff :) so now when something does go awry I can usually understand close to TDC (Top Dead Center)what happened, and then there is always the brave and patient folk here if I am still not too sure :) L. --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, pieter van eeten [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Pieter, Seems I'm pretty good at making mayonaise but BD is another story. As I've done a step by step analysis of all concerned parts of the proces the only unknown is the quality of my methanol. The bottle doesn't say what the percentage of Methanol is May I ask where you get your methanol or who is the producing company? Mny thx, Pieter From: Pieter Koole [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [biofuel] Westfalia Centrifuge for sale Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2004 21:13:15 +0200 The number is 06 2049 38 58 (Jan de Jong). Mention my name if you wish, and maybe you'll even get it a little cheaper. I have a small factory and Jan is my supplier. Met dank en vriendelijke groet, Pieter Koole The information contained in this message (including attachments) is confidential, and is intended for the addressee(s) only. If you have received this message in error please delete it and notify the originator immediately. The unauthorized use, disclosure, copying or alteration of this message is strictly forbidden. We will not be liable for direct, special, indirect or consequential damages arising from alteration of the contents of this message by a third party or in case of electronic communications as a result of any virus being passed on. - Original Message - From: pieter van eeten [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 10:13 AM Subject: Re: [biofuel] Westfalia Centrifuge for sale Eindhoven, do they sell wholesale at Breustedt or also smaller batches, seem more appropriate to start small with my first batch. Have you been making BD for a while? From: Pieter Koole [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [biofuel] Westfalia Centrifuge for sale Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2004 09:50:28 +0200 Hi Pieter, Where do you live ? My supplier is Breustedt in Apeldoorn Met dank en vriendelijke groet, Pieter Koole Netherlands The information contained in this message (including attachments) is confidential, and is intended for the addressee(s) only. If you have received this message in error please delete it and notify the originator immediately. The unauthorized use, disclosure, copying or alteration of this message is strictly forbidden. We will not be liable for direct, special, indirect or consequential damages arising from alteration of the contents of this message by a third party or in case of electronic communications as a result of any virus being passed on. - Original Message - From: pieter van eeten [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 7:19 AM Subject: Re:
Re: [biofuel] Appleseed Biodiesel Reactor For Sale
Hi, I have already been driving for a year on WVO (with a pre-heater system). The startup though requires ordinary 'diesel'. I have brewed my own biodiesel a few times (succesfully), but I don't seem to be as handy and technically equiped to build my own processor. So, I'm very interested in buying one. Off course this means it would need to be shipped to Belgium, Europe (for which I am prepared to bare the costs). Best regards, Yves. At 07:00 PM 7/29/2004 -0700, you wrote: Hello to all. I am a mechanical engineering/chemistry student at the University of Arizona. I will soon be accepting an exchange for at least one year to another University in a different part of the country. Due to space (dorm living) and other limitations, I would like to sell my current biodiesel project to someone who would make good use of it. I have just completed a 40 gallon Appleseed reactor made from a brand new hot water heater with the guidance of Girl Mark. I have only recently finished the reactorin fact, it has never been filled with anything other than water (for leak testing). The design is the now famous hot water heater based design using external piping and a circulating pump. The reactor is ready to begin processing. I also have a 55 gallon drum wash tank with an open top and internal standpipes which is ready to go but not yet leak tested. I will sell the reactor and wash tank for only the cost of the materials I put into it. Though I have not completely added this up yet, it will be right around $200 - $250 for everything you need (less chemicals) to make your biodiesel. I live in Tucson, Arizona. Pick-up/delivery options will have to be worked out with a buyer. I have transported both the reactor and the wash tank in my Volskwagen Golf (not at the same time) with only very minor disassembly, so this should not be a problem. I can provide digital photos of this equipment upon request. Everything is well built, piping is well taped, and easy to use. Please reply to [EMAIL PROTECTED] for personal questions that would not be of interest to the group (ie. logistical questions). Thank you, Brian __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
RE: [biofuel] ethanol use
Hi Craig Hi Keith FirstlyThank you Keith for the very informative info you pointed out on ethanol use in a gasoline motor. You're most welcome, glad it helped. Secondly..The amount of info I have managed to get by scounging a bit deeper. I have learnt a yard full in such a short time. At present I am building another 25 litre BD proccessor for myself and brother in law. His Isuzu diesel van has the 2.5 litre engine powering it. My proccessor is a 2 tank type, How does that work? but waiting for a promised pump to complete the little monster(my wife's affectionate name for it) She reakons it looks allien with the pipes and funny goodiescoming out of it. :-) Didn't think of that, but so does ours. Damn... now I'll have to go and paint a smiley on it. Best wishes Keith Great Craig Emmerick For those who missed out on the info..try these. Intensive Field Trial of Ethanol/Petrol Blend in Vehicles http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library.html#ethanoltrial http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library.html#ethanoltrial See also: Convert Your Car to Alcohol http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library.html#drane http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library.html#drane Ethanol and your car http://journeytoforever.org/ethanol_link.html#ethanolcar http://journeytoforever.org/ethanol_link.html#ethanolcar Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
RE: [biofuel] Conversion of Nissan UD truck for biodiesel
Rick, Not sure about Nissan's compatibility, but a 1999 model I would have thought would be. I'm sure there are a few here that have experience with them. IMO the diesel pump will be ok. There are many using BD that haven't changed fuel lines had no trouble. If you want to change these you can get Viton from Scientific suppliers, have a look at: http://www.fisher.co.uk/index.htm The consensus seems to be that provided your BD is well made well washed it poses no greater danger than petro diesel, especially at the ratio you will be using it at. The only thing you will have to watch is the gell point of the BD in winter. Good luck Malcolm -Original Message- From: Hope Wing Rick Abbott [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 29 July 2004 23:58 To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Subject: [biofuel] Conversion of Nissan UD truck for biodiesel I recently purchased a New 1999 Nissan UD1800HD cab-forward diesel from a Nissan dealer in Arizona. I live in Anchorage, Alaska and there are no Nissan dealerships here. I contacted the National Nissan represenative who state that the truck is not compatible with biodiesel. I currently have the flatbed off the truck and it would be a good opportunity to change out the fuel hoses to something that is compatible. Here is my problem, no one seems to know what type of hoses are compatible with biodiesel. Some of the hoses are labeled and some are not. I have a call and an E-Mail into Goodyear to see if the Insta-Grip hose, ties in auxillary tank, is compatible. There does not seem to be any Viton fuel hose on the market. What type of diesel fuel filters work with biodiesel? The Nissan rep. also stated that these had rubber in them? Is all of this necessary if I am only going to be burning a 20% biodiesel in the fuel? Thanks, Rick Abbott Anchorage, Alaska [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] Re: Lumpy BD
Keith, just a question. How are you doing the stir washing? With a stirrer. Using the pump, or actually using a stirring mechanism? I saw the thread on what Todd was saying about pump washing and was interesed on if and how people are doing that. We don't have a spare pump, and would rather keep any water out of the processor mixing pump, which probably does enough already without adding washing to its burden. Best Keith Thanks, James On Thu, 29 Jul 2004, Keith Addison wrote: snip Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[biofuel] Further investigation of the Bush administration's abuse of science
See also: Fiery Hell on Earth, Part 5: A Marriage Made in Heaven July 22, 2004 http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/37132/ -- http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1449 Scientific Integrity in Policy Making Further investigation of the Bush administration's abuse of science This page is part of the introduction from the July 2004 update to the February 2004 UCS report Scientific Integrity in Policymaking. The Report Read the new report 351kb PDF http://www.ucsusa.org/documents/Scientific_Integrity_in_Policy_Making_July_2004.pdf Scientists' Statement Thousands of scientists have called for an end to these practices, including 48 Nobel Laureates and 62 National Medal of Science recipients. If you are a scientist we need you to support the scientists' statement calling for an end to scientific abuse. http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1320 New Cases: Mountaintop Removal Mining Northwest Salmon USFWS: Panthers, Trout, and Swans Emergency Contraception NIH Drug Abuse Panel President's Council on Bioethics Fogarty International Center Advisory Board On February 18, 2004, 62 preeminent scientists including Nobel laureates, National Medal of Science recipients, former senior advisers to administrations of both parties, numerous members of the National Academy of Sciences, and other well-known researchers released a statement titled Restoring Scientific Integrity in Policy Making. http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1322 In this statement, the scientists charged the Bush administration with widespread and unprecedented manipulation of the process through which science enters into its decisions. The scientists' statement made brief reference to specific cases that illustrate this pattern of behavior. In conjunction with the statement, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released detailed documentation backing up the scientists' charges in its report, Scientific Integrity in Policy Making. Since the release of the UCS report in February, the administration has continued to undermine the integrity of science in policy making seemingly unchecked. Many scientists have spoken out about their frustration with an administration that has undermined the quality of the science that informs policy making by suppressing, distorting, or manipulating the work done by scientists at federal agencies and on scientific advisory panels. For instance, Michael Kelly, a biologist who had served at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service for nine years, recently resigned his position and issued an indictment of Bush administration practices. As Kelly wrote, I speak for many of my fellow biologists who are embarrassed and disgusted by the agency's apparent misuse of science.1 Scientific Integrity in Policy Making: Further investigation of the Bush administration's abuse of science investigates several new incidents that have surfaced since the February 2004 UCS report. These new incidents have been corroborated through in-depth interviews and internal government documents, including some documents released through the Freedom of Information Act. The cases that follow include: * egregious disregard of scientific study, across several agencies, regarding the environmental impacts of mountaintop removal mining; * censorship and distortion of scientific analysis, and manipulation of the scientific process, across several issues and agencies in regard to the Endangered Species Act; * distortion of scientific knowledge in decisions about emergency contraception; * new evidence about the use of political litmus tests for scientific advisory panel appointees. These new revelations put to rest any arguments offered by the administration that the cases to date have been isolated incidents involving a few bad actors. Concern in the scientific community has continued to grow. In the months since the original UCS report, more than 4,000 scientists have signed onto the scientists' statement. Signers include 48 Nobel laureates, 62 National Medal of Science recipients, and 127 members of the National Academy of Sciences. A number of these scientists have served in multiple administrations, both Democratic and Republican, underscoring the unprecedented nature of this administration's practices and demonstrating that the issues of scientific integrity transcend partisan politics. The United States has an impressive history of investing in and reaping the benefits of scientific research. The actions by the Bush administration threaten to undermine the morale and compromise the integrity of scientists working for and advising America's world-class governmental research institutions and agencies. Not only does the public expect and deserve government to provide it with accurate information, the government has a responsibility to ensure that policy
[biofuel] The Corruption (and Redemption) of Science
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=57ItemID=5934 The Corruption (and Redemption) of Science by David W. Orr July 27, 2004 Conservation Biology A recent investigation into the use of science by the Bush Administration alleges a systematic pattern of suppressing or distorting scientific evidence across a wide range of issues ( Union of Concerned Scientists 2004 ). The authors of the report further charge that the appointment of scientific advisors and members of advisory panels now serves interests other than the search for truth. Specifically, the report charges that there is: - a well-established pattern of suppression and distortion of scientific findings by high-ranking Bush Administration political appointees in many federal agencies; - a wide-ranging effort to manipulate the government's scientific advisory system; - and censorship on topics deemed sensitive to the administration's political base. Such manipulation of science, the authors say, is unprecedented. In short, objective knowledge is being distorted for political ends by the Bush Administration, and misrepresented or even withheld from Congress and the public at large. To those paying attention, findings such as these will come as no surprise. They fit a larger pattern that ranges from the misuse of intelligence information to justify the war in Iraq, to deception about the budget, the economy, and the effects of tax cuts, to well the list goes on, and in its length and scope it, too, is unprecedented. Some may object that such information is partisan and has no place in this journal and no bearing on its mission of bringing authentic science to bear on the problems of conservation. On the other hand, whatever one's politics, the corruption of science and public information for political ends ought to be deeply offensive to scientists and citizens alike. Allowed to continue it will, like Lysenkoism in the Soviet Union, demoralize scientists, degrade the reputation of science, and discredit the information necessary to a free society. And, specifically for those working in conservation biology, it means that research, whatever its merit or import, will be discounted or disregarded by federal agencies, the Congress, and the White House. As bad as the recent corruption of U.S. science by right-wing ideologues for political purposes may be, there is a deeper pattern of corruption described recently by Manchester Guardian columnist George Monbiot (2004) . The problems cited by Monbiot include the following: - 34% percent of the lead authors of articles in scientific journals are compromised by their sources of funding; - only 16% of scientific journals have a policy on conflicts of interest, and only 0.5% of the papers published have authors who disclose such conflicts; - British and U.S. scientists are putting their names to papers they have not written, which are instead ghosted by writers working for various companies; and - 87% of the scientists writing clinical guidelines have financial ties to drug companies. Monbiot, in short, charges that some branches of university science are systematically corrupted by corporate money. In recent decades there has been a veritable flood of corporation funding to major universities, and we may reasonably assume that the corruption is roughly proportional to the volume of funding, which is not, however, to say that all research so funded is thereby corrupted. Corruption comes in varying degrees. The Union of Concerned Scientists and George Monbiot are concerned about the effects of political zealotry, greed, and the desire for renown on the accuracy of scientific information. But there is a more subtle kind of corruption by which commercial funding and private ownership of knowledge cuts off the free flow of ideas in science and deflects entire fields of knowledge. Some branches of science simply would not have flourished without the promise of great pecuniary reward both for researchers and institutions able to patent the results. And some fields, of considerable importance to the larger human prospect, have languished because they offer no such potential. As a result, textbooks, curricula, research agendas, tenure decisions, and employment opportunities come to reflect the pattern of grant and gift money, not the freely chosen search for truth. There is no conspiracy here of the sort described by the Union of Concerned Scientists or George Monbiot. Instead, there is the power of money to do what money has always done, which is to get its way in this case by harnessing much of science to the purposes of commerce and power and thereby to determine the directions of entire fields of knowledge. Defenders of the system argue that the funds so acquired by universities are necessary to make up the difference between rising budgets and decreasing public support. But poverty a relative thing is not a good
[biofuel] Scandals of Oil for Food
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15ItemID=5909 Scandals of Oil for Food by Joy Gordon July 20, 2004 Middle East Report Online http://www.merip.org Rep. Ralph Hall opened a set of Congressional hearings on July 8 with a dramatic flourish, denouncing the deaths of thousands of Iraqis through malnutrition and lack of appropriate medical supplies. We have a name for that in the United States, the Texas Republican told a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It's called murder. The target of Hall's accusation was not the UN economic sanctions that, according to a 1999 UNICEF study, had helped to double the rate of mortality among children under five in central and southern Iraq over the preceding decade. Rather, the Congressman was introducing yet more hearings to air broad allegations of incompetence, manipulation and personal corruption in the so-called Oil for Food program established by the UN Security Council in 1995 to ameliorate the humanitarian emergency in Iraq. According to these allegations, UN mismanagement allowed Saddam Hussein to pocket billions of dollars in oil sales at the expense of the Iraqi people. Benon Sevan, former head of the Office of Iraq Program, which housed the now dissolved Oil for Food program, has been named as one UN official who purportedly took what amount to bribes to look the other way. No fewer than nine discrete investigations into these claims have been launched: three in the House of Representatives, one in the Senate, one each at the Treasury Department and US Customs Service, one in New York courts and one by the US-appointed Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit, as well as an internal UN investigation headed by Paul Volcker, former head of the Federal Reserve Bank. One House probe has issued a subpoena for relevant records from the Paris-based bank, BNP Paribas, where the UN kept the Oil for Food funds on deposit; ExxonMobil has received a subpoena from a US attorney's office in New York. The raft of investigations has been accompanied by a loud campaign, led by William Safire and other conservative columnists, to discredit the Oil for Food program in public opinion. Claudia Rosett, one of the most vitriolic critics, wrote in the April 28 Wall Street Journal, It's looking more and more as if one of the best reasons to get rid of Saddam Hussein was that it was probably the only way to get rid of Oil for Food. How seriously should these sensational accusations be taken? HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY Oil for Food, though never more than a stopgap measure, saved Iraqi civilians from privations even worse than those they suffered. The economic sanctions imposed by the Security Council following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, combined with the destruction of infrastructure during the Gulf war and refugee flight afterwards, had resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis by the summer of 1991. A UN team found a threefold increase in under-five mortality over the first eight months of that year. Iraq rejected the terms of the Security Council's initial proposal to permit very limited oil sales, and, over the next four years, the nearly comprehensive sanctions helped to cause increases in malnutrition and waterborne diseases. The infrastructure continued to crumble. In 1995, the Security Council authorized a new proposal allowing Iraq to sell somewhat larger amounts of oil and then use the proceeds to buy food, medicine and other humanitarian goods. Several different UN agencies provided expertise, service delivery and monitoring once Oil for Food was finally implemented in March 1997, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Food Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Development Program. When the program was formally terminated in November 2003, $31 billion of humanitarian aid had been delivered, primarily food and medicine, but also items for water and sewage treatment, electricity production, transportation and agriculture. Within the narrow strictures of the sanctions regime, the Oil for Food program accomplished a great deal, according to statistics kept by these agencies and independent observers. Between 1997 and 2002, the nutritional value of the food basket distributed monthly by the program almost doubled, from 1,200 calories per person per day to about 2,200. The incidence of communicable diseases, including cholera and malaria, was cut down substantially. Electricity became more reliable, as did the availability of potable water. Despite these gains, sanctions continued to take a toll. In the late 1990s and the early days of the current Bush administration, most of the debate over Oil for Food focused on its limitations as a remedy for Iraq's humanitarian crisis. Today's spotlight on alleged corruption in the program, in addition to being tinged with reflexive right-wing hostility to the
[biofuel] Oil and the Venezuelan State
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=45ItemID=5945 Oil and the Venezuelan State . by Gregory Wilpert . and Ali Rodriguez venezuelanalysis.com July 27, 2004 Ali Rodriguez is the president of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA. He is one of the Venezuelan Left's main oil industry experts, having served for many years as member of the congressional committee that oversees oil issues, representing the party La Causa R? (The Radical Cause) and later Patria Para Todos? (Fatherland for All, which split off of Causa R in 1997). With Chavez' election he served as Minister for Energy and Mines, then as President of OPEC, and since mid 2002 as President of PDVSA. The interview was conducted in Rodriguez' office in mid July 2004. Oil Industry Sabotage and PDVSA today Gregory Wilpert: I would like to begin with the oil industry sabotage that happened last year. I had heard in another interview that you gave recently, that one and a half years after the sabotage there still are some weaknesses within PDVSA. Perhaps you could say what specifically are the strengths and weaknesses of PDVSA right now, one and a half years after the sabotage? Ali Rodriguez: The weaknesses are easy to deduce. Almost 19,000 people left PDVSA and among these were a majority of those who managed all of the operations of the corporation: exploration, production, transport, refining, commerce, supply, finances, and this obviously implied a problem in the reconstruction of all these systems, which, while reestablished, in many cases, such as finances, still suffer certain weaknesses. We are progressively overcoming these. In the sector of production, all of the storage managers had left, who were qualified employees. Of course, this was unavoidable because they abandoned their employment obligations for 62 consecutive days. There was no other option than to apply the legal norms, specifically article 102 of the Organic Labor Law. The main strength was and is that despite the loss of all of these employees, among which are people who were highly specialized and with a long trajectory of experience within the corporation, who abandoned their obligations, workers of the company were able to substitute them, primarily due to their enormous effort. A fundamental part of the effort depended upon the massive incorporation of workers who substituted those who left. Of course, we also counted upon the reincorporation of retired employees. A characteristic of the oil industry has been that in many cases people retire in their prime and go to work for other companies within and outside the country, often as consultants and other times as employees. This was the main strength that the corporation and the country demonstrated. GW: About a year ago there still were occasional reports of sabotage. What is the situation like now in this regard? AR: There is a variety of actions against the company, from the incessant activity, via the media, both within in and outside of the country, which try to present the corporation as one that is virtually bankrupt. These are affirmations that are completely contradicted by the facts. Last year, PDVSA paid $2.2 billion of debt very punctually, of which $800 million was amortization of debt. Today, we are closing a repurchasing of bonds, of $2.5 billion. This shows our financial strength. Some people say that this does not mean much because it is the result of an increase in the price of oil. But the price would not be worth anything of there weren't the barrels of oil behind it. After all, our income is the result of volume times price. The fact that we have complied with our financial obligations, and not just fulfilled them, but have over-fulfilled them, are evident symptoms of the strength of the corporation. The current debt of PDVSA has been reduced to $3.5 billion, which, in relation to the assets, is a miniscule debt. We are going to continue to reduce the debt, not because we believe that it is something malignant, but simply because it should be reduced in conditions that do not present any danger to the corporation. Today the operations are completely normalized. PDVSA's production is above 3.1 million barrels per day. Our refining capacity, including the island of Cura̤ao, is at 1.17 million barrels per day. We have already begun exporting ecological? gasoline to the United States. Two loads have left and two more will be leaving soon, of 250,000 barrels each. The refineries are functioning normally. GW: And what about the El Palito refinery? It was closed for a while recently. AR: El Palito was closed for maintenance because this was a refinery that was neglected for quite a while, for some important repairs. Also, there was an arbitrariness with the person in charge of one of the processes, who has been submitted to the authorities and is
[biofuel] Re: Appleseed Biodiesel Reactor For Sale
you'll have to rewire the heater.. (110v i think) --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, Yves vd Hoeven [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, I have already been driving for a year on WVO (with a pre-heater system). The startup though requires ordinary 'diesel'. I have brewed my own biodiesel a few times (succesfully), but I don't seem to be as handy and technically equiped to build my own processor. So, I'm very interested in buying one. Off course this means it would need to be shipped to Belgium, Europe (for which I am prepared to bare the costs). Best regards, Yves. At 07:00 PM 7/29/2004 -0700, you wrote: Hello to all. I am a mechanical engineering/chemistry student at the University of Arizona. I will soon be accepting an exchange for at least one year to another University in a different part of the country. Due to space (dorm living) and other limitations, I would like to sell my current biodiesel project to someone who would make good use of it. I have just completed a 40 gallon Appleseed reactor made from a brand new hot water heater with the guidance of Girl Mark. I have only recently finished the reactorin fact, it has never been filled with anything other than water (for leak testing). The design is the now famous hot water heater based design using external piping and a circulating pump. The reactor is ready to begin processing. I also have a 55 gallon drum wash tank with an open top and internal standpipes which is ready to go but not yet leak tested. I will sell the reactor and wash tank for only the cost of the materials I put into it. Though I have not completely added this up yet, it will be right around $200 - $250 for everything you need (less chemicals) to make your biodiesel. I live in Tucson, Arizona. Pick-up/delivery options will have to be worked out with a buyer. I have transported both the reactor and the wash tank in my Volskwagen Golf (not at the same time) with only very minor disassembly, so this should not be a problem. I can provide digital photos of this equipment upon request. Everything is well built, piping is well taped, and easy to use. Please reply to [EMAIL PROTECTED] for personal questions that would not be of interest to the group (ie. logistical questions). Thank you, Brian __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
