Transcript RRT2 Biofuels 2009

Emerging Issues About Biofuels Under EPA's
Emergency Response Program
Gregory J. Wilson
U.S. EPA - Office of Emergency Management
Washington, DC 20460
[email protected]
Regional Response Team 2
West Point, New York
April 7, 2009
Legislative Background
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Energy Policy Act of 2005
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Biofuel mandates increase from 4 bgy (2006) to 7.5 bgy (2012).
Requires EPA to promulgate regulations implementing a
renewable fuel program.
Energy Independence & Security Act (EISA) (2007)
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Expand use of renewable fuels to 36 billion gallons per year (bgy)
by 2022
Ethanol production from corn starch is capped at 15 bgy
Cellulosic Biofuel (renewable fuel from any cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin)
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0.5 billion gallons by 2012
3 billion gallons by 2015
16 billion gallons by 2022
Advanced Biofuels (biomass-based diesel, other biofuels)
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Biofuels Supply Chain
Feedstock
Production
Feedstock
Logistics
Biofuels
Production
Biofuels
Distribution
Biofuels
End Use
Ag Crops
Fuel types
Ag Residues
Energy
Crops
Harvesting &
Collecting
Biochemical
Conversion
Forest
Residues
Storage
Thermochemical
Conversion
Wastes
PreProcessing
Biological
Conversion
Transportation
Chemical
Conversion
Algae
Distribution
by barge,
truck, rail,
pipeline
Storage in
tanks
Dispensing
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Transportation fuels in
light & heavy duty
vehicles & trucks, Off Road vehicles,
Locomotives, Flight
technologies,
Boats/Ships
Power & Generators
Chemical Feedstocks
for Manufacturing
Ethanol Production (supply) – Coastal Consumers (demand)
Biofuels Integration Roadmap
Oil Field
Production
Animal Fat / Vegetable Oil (AFVO)
Traditional
Petroleum Refinery
Company
AFVOs
Generator
Terminal
Dealers
Railcar
Pipeline
Pipelines (under development)
Biorefinery
Ethanol/biodiesel
Denatured Fuel Ethanol/Vessels
Railcar
Denaturant
Transloading
Biodiesel
Dealer
Vessels with Crude
Petroleum Oil as Cargo
Pipeline/Vessel
Blending
Terminal
Truck
Dealer
Wholesale/Jobber
Consumer
Vessels (barges) with
Petroleum Products
as Cargo
Company
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Current Ethanol Plants
http://www.card.iastate.edu/research/bio/tools/ethanol.aspx as of 01/16/2008
Typical Ethanol Dry Mill Process
Grain (Corn)
Cleaning and
Milling
Mash
Preparation
Distillation
Denaturant
2-5% Gasoline
Fermentation
190 Proof
DDGS
Separation
Dehydration
Molecular
Sieves
Enzymes
Dried Distillers Grains
with Solubles (DDGS)
200 Proof
Ethanol
Storage
DDGS
Drying
Gasification
Fuel
Ethanol
DDGS
Storage
Livestock
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GTL:
Ethanol/Biodiesel
Denaturant – Why & How Much
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U.S. Department of the Treasury - Alcohol and
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
Render ethanol unfit for human consumption
At least 2 gallons of denaturant to every 100
gallons of fuel ethanol
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Natural Gasoline
Conventional Unleaded Gasoline
Straight Run Gasoline
Naphtha
Kerosene
Ethanol producers add ~4.76 % volume
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Ethanol Plant Process Chemicals
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Ethanol production process (pH adjustment, nutrients)
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Cleaning chemicals keep fermentation clean
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Sulfuric Acid - Corrosive
Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) – Corrosive
Ammonia Source - Anhydrous, Hydrous - Corrosive
Chlorine-based Solution - Corrosive
Caustic Soda - Corrosive
General water treatment chemicals
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Chlorine- or Bromine-based Solution - Corrosive
Ammonia-related Solution - Some Hazards
Surfactants - Some hazards, typically mild
Ethanol and Ethanol Blended Fuels, Emergency Response Training and Safety Issues, National Association of State Fire Marshals, July 1, 2008
www.firemarshals.org/data/File/docs/Emergency-Response-IAFC.pdf
EPA (R5) – Ethanol Manufacturing Facility Response Overview
Potential Risks of Ethanol
• Human Health Effects
 Exposure to fuel ethanol may
occur by breathing its vapors
(inhalation), getting it on the skin
or in the eyes (skin absorption),
or swallowing it (ingestion).
 Exposure to ethanol vapors in
high concentrations or for
prolonged periods can be
harmful to human health.
 Ethanol can cause local
dehydration and lesions.
 Absorption, which occurs
swiftly from the gastrointestinal
tract, causes euphoria, with
subsequent dizziness,
inebriation, paralysis,
diminished reflex, and
respiratory paralysis.
• Ecological Effects
 Pure ethanol can be toxic to
fish at high enough
concentrations
 Lethal concentrations for fish
(rainbow trout): 11,200 to
15,300 milligrams per liter
(mg/L).
 Pure ethanol is completely
miscible in water
 Pure ethanol may biodegrade
aerobically and anaerobically
 Biodegradation may decrease
the dissolved oxygen in
surface water, resulting in
fish kills and other adverse
impacts to oxygen-dependent
species (direct or indirect).
Ethanol Spill
Ethanol Spill
Typical Biodiesel (e.g., FAME) Generation
Feedstock
Preparation
Acid
Transesterification
Reaction
Crude Biodiesel
Phase
Separation
Water
Washing
Drying
Acid
Acidification &
FFA Separation
Free Fatty Acids
FFA
Methanol
Recovery
Crude Glycerin
Finished
Biodiesel
Catalyst
Preparation
Glycerin Phase
Neutralization
Water
Methanol
NaOH
Vegetable Oil
Glycerin
Refining
Purified
Glycerin
Current Biodiesel Plants
Biodiesel Plant Process Chemicals
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Biodiesel production process
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Methanol
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Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)
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Catalyst
Hexane
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Corrosive; Catalyst
Sodium Methylate
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Corrosive; Catalyst
Potassium Hydroxide
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Volatile; Flammable (Class 3)
Volatile; Flammable (Class 3)
Glycerol (glycerine)
EPA (R5) – Biodiesel Manufacturing Facility Response Overview
Biofuel Spill
Fire and release point
Vegetable Oil (Biodiesel Feedstock) Spill
• Properties similar to petroleum.
 Light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL).
• Toxic effects: coating of feathers, fur, and gills is
harmful.
 Absence of odor and sheen results in reduced avoidance.
 Reduces thermal insulation and buoyancy.
• May burn if ignited.
• May clog water treatment plants (due to the
polymerization property).
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Effects of Vegetable Oil Spills
• High BOD may cause oxygen depletion.
 Greater effect on DO than petroleum oils.
• Unsaturated oils (liquids at cold temperatures) are subject to
chemical (abiotic) oxidation.
 Polymerization due to chemical oxidation and cross-linking.
 Rancid odors may develop rapidly.
 Unsaturated oils form gum balls and varnishes in presence of
oxygen, which resist biodegradation.
• Saturated oils turn solid or semi-solid at cool temperatures,
highly resistant to biodegradation.
• May be toxic or form toxic products.
 Especially free fatty acids and chemical oxidation products.
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Biofuels Infrastructure
Transportation and Non-transportation Related
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Distribution terminals
Blending facilities
Transfer hubs
Rail lines & railcars
Barges & waterways
Transport trucks
Pipelines
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Ethanol and biodiesel
currently do not use many of
the traditional petroleum
products infrastructure
Transloading Biofuels
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Typical individual railcar
capacity
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Shipped in unit trains
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~30,000 U.S. gallons
Can be as high as 100 railcars
Transferred from rail cars to
tank trucks for delivery to
blending terminals
Transfer process equipment
not necessary “fixed” in a
single location
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Relevant Emergency Response Issues
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Fires and spills involving
ethanol and ethanol/gasoline
blends pose some complex
challenges for emergency
responders
Ethanol is a polar/watermiscible flammable liquid
(one that mixes readily with
water)
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Degrades the effectiveness of
fire fighting foams that are not
alcohol resistant
DOT PHMSA Guide 127 - Flammable Liquids Polar/Water-miscible, 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2004)
http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/g127.pdf
Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC),
http://www.ethanolresponse.com
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Relevant Emergency Response Issues
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Alcohol-Resistant – Aqueous Film Forming Foam
(AR-AFFF)
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Effective with ethanol blends from E10 through E95
E10 can be extinguished with AFFF and AR-AFFF but require
higher application rates to prevent burn back
Sprinkler application, which is typical of the fire suppression
systems at many storage terminal loading racks
Creates a physical, polymer-membrane barrier between the
foam blanket and fuel surface
Alcohol Resistant – Film Forming Fluoroproteins (AR-FFFP)
Ethanol and Ethanol Blended Fuels, Emergency Response Training and Safety Issues, National Association of State Fire Marshals, July 1, 2008
www.firemarshals.org/data/File/docs/Emergency-Response-IAFC.pdf
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EPA Regulations
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Spill Prevention, Control,
and Countermeasures
Facility Response Plans
Risk Management Plans
Emergency Planning and
Community Right to
Know
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Summary
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Recent energy legislation mandates biofuel usage.
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Requires EPA to develop a new Renewable Fuel Standard.
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New generation, storage, and distribution
infrastructure challenges
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Expand biofuels to 36 billion gallons by 2022.
Integrating biofuels into traditional fuel supply chain
Infrastructure challenges
Fires and spills involving ethanol and
ethanol/gasoline blends pose some complex
challenges for emergency responders
Biodiesel & other substances in biofuels generation
Additional Resources
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DOT PHMSA Guide 127 - Flammable Liquids Polar/Watermiscible.
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2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2004)
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http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/g127.pdf
Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC)
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Guidebook for Handling, Storing, & Dispensing Fuel Ethanol
(DOE)
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http://www.ethanolresponse.com
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/30849.pdf
EPA Region 5 - Ethanol & Biodiesel Response Manuals
EPA Region 7 - Ethanol & Biodiesel Plant Manuals
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http://epa.gov/region07/priorities/agriculture/biodiesel_manual.pdf
http://epa.gov/region07/priorities/agriculture/ethanol_plants_manual.pdf