Personal tours can be arranged to visit the Methes Energies Show Case Facility in Mississauga, Ontario. During your visit you will be presented with the Methes Energies Canada Inc. history, technology, outlook as well as a personal tour of the Denami 600 in process. Following your tour a question answer period is offered together with the opportunity. To arrange a personal tour please call 905-828-2700 extension 609.

The name Methes is derived from the term methyl ester.

There is a large and growing demand for biodiesel in North America and around the world. Methes can provide your off-take requirements until you are ready to identify and manage your own clients.

With a suitable location prepared, your Denami 600 can be commissioned on your site in as little as 16 weeks.

Methes can help you make sure that feedstock is never a problem.  As a leader in the
biodiesel industry, we have the contacts to ensure that you always have sufficient quality feedstock available to produce ASTM quality biodiesel.

Methes is constantly researching available incentives and grants from many sources. While each geographical area has its own potential, your Methes sales representative will assist with identifying financial resources.

Methes has produced an easy to read Denami 600 Buyers Manual. This manual can be provided in electronic form to qualified Methes clients.

The majority of the biodiesel cost is the feedstock. Up-to-date pricing for feedstock and biodiesel can be found at The Jacobsen. With The Jacobsen numbers entered into the Methes Cash flow Spreadsheet you can see the financials on whatever scenario you choose to run.

Since the massive growth in the biodiesel industry over the past few years the glycerin market has become overloaded with available inventory, causing the price to fall drastically. Currently we can introduce you to companies who will take it away for the price of shipping.

The Denami 600 has been designed to be continuous flow and remotely monitored and operated. Onsite workers are needed during one eight hour shift per day, mainly to perform loading and unloading procedures. Within a single unit plant, 2 workers can efficiently service the needs of production. It is recommended for multiple unit plants that there be a ratio of one operator for each three Denami 600 units.

Methes Energies has prepared offerings for Canada, United States of America and International clients. Ask your sales representative for these documents.

Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in most diesel engines with no modifications.

Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

No!

Biodiesel is produced from any fat or oil such as soybean oil, through a refinery process called transesterification. This process is a reaction of the oil with alcohol to remove the glycerin, which is a by-product of biodiesel production.

Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to insure proper performance. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 and is legally registered with the Environmental Protection Agency is a legal motor fuel for sale and distribution.

Raw vegetable oil cannot meet biodiesel fuel specifications. It is not registered with the EPA and it is not a legal motor fuel. For entities seeking to adopt a definition of biodiesel for purposes such as federal or state statute, state or national divisions of weights and measures or for any other purpose the official definition consistent with other federal and state laws and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines is as follows: Biodiesel is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to ASTM D6751 specifications for use in diesel engines. Biodiesel refers to the pure fuel before blending with diesel fuel. Biodiesel blends are denoted as, "BXX" with "XX" representing the percentage of biodiesel contained in the blend (ie: B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel).

Biodiesel can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum in any percentage. B20 (a blend of 20 percent by volume biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel) has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for fleet operations and other consumers.

Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meets clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Neat (100 percent) biodiesel has been designated as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are essentially eliminated.

Of the major exhaust pollutants, both unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are ozone or smog forming precursors. The use of biodiesel results in a substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons. Emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods used. Based on engine testing using the most stringent emissions testing protocols required by EPA for certification of fuels or fuel additives in the US, the overall ozone forming potential of the speciated hydrocarbon emissions from biodiesel was nearly 50 percent less than that measured for diesel fuel.

A 1998 biodiesel lifecycle study, jointly sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture, concluded biodiesel reduces net CO² emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel. This is due to biodiesel’s closed carbon cycle. The CO² released into the atmosphere when biodiesel is burned is recycled by growing plants, which are later processed into fuel.

Is biodiesel safer than petroleum diesel? Scientific research confirms that biodiesel exhaust has a less harmful impact on human health than petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel emissions have decreased levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrited PAH compounds that have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds. Test results indicate PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, with the exception of benzo(a)anthracene, which was reduced by roughly 50 percent. Targeted nPAH compounds were also reduced dramatically with biodiesel fuel, with 2-nitrofluorene and 1-nitropyrene reduced by 90 percent, and the rest of the nPAH compounds reduced to only trace levels.

When reviewing the high costs associated with other alternative fuel systems, many fleet managers have determined biodiesel is their least-cost-strategy to comply with state and federal regulations. Use of biodiesel does not require major engine modifications. That means operators keep their fleets, their spare parts inventories, their refueling stations and their skilled mechanics. The only thing that changes is air quality.

In general, the standard storage and handling procedures used for petroleum diesel can be used for biodiesel. The fuel should be stored in a clean, dry, dark environment. Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminum, steel, fluorinated polyethylene, fluorinated polypropylene and teflon. Copper, brass, lead, tin, and zinc should be avoided.

Biodiesel can be operated in most diesel engine with no modifications to the engine or the fuel system. Biodiesel has a solvent effect that may release deposits accumulated on tank walls and pipes from previous diesel fuel storage. The release of deposits may clog filters initially and precautions should be taken. Ensure that only fuel meeting the biodiesel specification is used.

Depending on the the feedstock used to produce biodiesel, the cold temperature properties of biodiesel can vary significantly.

Low Temperature Properties of Diesel and Biodiesel:

	Cloud Point		Pour Point
Fuel	°C	°F	°C	°F
No. 2 Diesel	-23	-9	-27	-17
Soy Biodiesel Diesel	2	35	0	32
Yellow Grease Biodiesel	5	41	3	37
Tallow Biodiesel	14	57	18	64

Methes has tested many additives and can recommend the one suitable for your application. The amount of additives needed range from 100 ppm to 1500 ppm to bring the biodiesel down to a cloud point fo -20°C; similiar to No. 2 Diesel

Biodiesel without preservatives or biocides has a shelf life of 6 months in ideal conditions.

The term B2 refers to the percentage of biodiesel blended with conventional petrochemical diesel fuel. B2 represents 2% biodiesel and B5 represents 5% biodiesel blended with conventional petrochemical diesel fuel.

A simple internet search on biodiesel will give you all the information you can handle. It is a good idea to research as much as possible. A couple recommended sites are:

Methes Energies Canada Inc.  – www.methes.com
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/com/index-eng.php
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- http://www.epa.gov/
National Biodiesel Board (NBB) - http://www.biodiesel.org/
Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA)- http://www.greenfuels.org/

There are many companies worldwide that can build biodiesel equipment. The key to picking the right equipment really depends on understanding what you need.

If you are looking at producing biodiesel commerically, you need commercial system that not only takes into consideration the technical aspects of producing biodiesel; but also key factors like the ease of use, minimized service costs and multi feedstock capabilities.

Many equpiment suppliers often do not provide for the complete package to produce commercially marketable ASTM biodiesel. You will require additional engineering to "piece" the different components together. If you have the technical expertise, buying serperate equipment and components may be a good route to take.

If you are looking for a turnkey solution, take a look at our turnkey offerings.

A common misconception in the industry is that the most important element the equipment. However, choosing the appropriate feedstock is equally important.

The sequence of processes needed are:

1) Feedstock selection and validation

2) Equipment selection. The equipment must be capable of METERING, MIXING, SEPARATING and POLISHING

3) Proper storage and distribution of Biodiesel will ensure the biodiesel is ASTM to the end user.

In USA, biodiesel equipment should conform with the ASME codes for pressure and UL codes for electrical.

In Canada, biodiesel equipment should conform with the TSSA for pressure codes and CSA codes for electrical.

Methanol is one of the feedstock required for biodiesel production and hence all bioidiesel equipment should be rated to Class 1 Dev 2.

The biodiesel industry in the United States has realized significant growth over the past decade through large increases in annual production and production capacity and a transition from smaller batch plants to larger-scale continuous producers. The larger, continuous-flow plants provide operating cost advantages over the smaller batch plants through their ability to capture co-products and reuse certain components in the production process.

Based on a recent study named "The Growth and Direction of the Biodiesel Industry in the United States" by Nick D. Paulson and Roger G. Ginder, dated May 2007,

"The analysis shows that the larger plant realizes returns to scale in both labor and capital costs, enabling the larger plant to pay up to $0.015 more per pound for the feedstock to achieve equivalent return levels as the smaller plant under the same conditions."

A continuous process is critical to maintain a competitive edge in the biodiesel production industry and Methes revolutionary Denami 600 can help you acheive the cost advantages of a continuous flow process without a large investment of a massive plant.

The Denami 600 is very efficent in recovering and reusing Methanol in its continuous flow process. The Denami 600 includes 2 methanol recovery modules that effectly reclaim up to 98% of the excess methanol that is present in the crude biodiesel.

The reclaimed methanol is than reused for (1) regenerating the polishing resin and (2) injected back to the biodiesel process to produce more biodiesel

Polishing (or refining) is a critical step in ensuring Biodiesel means the ASTM standards.

It primarily involves the removing of free glycerin to below 200 ppm, water to below 50 ppm and any soaps that are created during the production process.. As these are very trace levels of contaminants, a special process has to be included to acheive the highest purity value.

Free glycerol may remain either as suspended droplets or as the very small amount that does dissolve in the biodiesel. Alcohols can act as cosolvents to increase the solubility of glycerol in the biodiesel. Most glycerol should be removed from the biodiesel product during the water washing process. Water-washed fuel is generally very low in free glyc-erol, especially if hot water is used for washing. However, additional equipment to separate and dry the biodiesel are required and a the waste water needs to be treated for either re-use or for disposal.

The other method is to polish the biodiesel through a resin bed. These specially designed resin will absord free glyerin, soap and water. Waterless polishing of the fuel has two other positive rewards:
a) the fuel has a longer storage life, and
b) the fuel is not saturated with water (biodiesel will hold more water than regular diesel.

When using the waterless process, it is very important to control the quality biodiesel it is treating. One common challenge is that too much soap is created during the reaction process, due to incorrect metering of catalyst. The soaps will degrade the resin too quickly and replacement interval are increased.

The Denami 600 uses the waterless polishing method to treat the biodiesel. The sophisticated metering and monitoring of the the reaction process to confidently use the waterless process cost effectively.

Water and Sediment. These two items are largely housekeeping issues for biodiesel. Water can be present in two forms, either as dissolved water or as suspended water droplets. Although biodiesel is generally insoluble in water, it actually takes up con­siderably more water than petrodiesel fuel. Biodiesel can contain as much as 1500 ppm of dissolved water, whereas diesel fuel usually takes up only ~50 ppm (59). The standards for diesel fuel (ASTM D 975) and biodiesel (ASTM D 6751) both limit the amount of water to 500 ppm. For petrodiesel fuel, this actually allows a small amount of suspended water. However, biodiesel must be kept dry. This is a challenge because many diesel storage tanks have water on the bottom due to condensation. Suspended water is a problem in fuel injection equipment because it contributes to the corrosion of the closely fitting parts in the fuel injection system. Water can also contribute to microbial growth in the fuel. This problem can occur in both biodiesel and petrodiesel fuel and can result in acidic fuel and sludge that will plug fuel filters.
Sediment may consist of suspended rust and dirt particles or it may originate from the fuel as insoluble compounds formed during fuel oxidation. Some biodiesel users have noted that switching from petrodiesel to biodiesel causes an increase in sediment originating from deposits on the walls of fuel tanks that had previously contained petrodiesel fuel. Because its solvent properties are different from those of petrodiesel fuel, biodiesel may loosen these sediments and cause fuel filter plugging during the transition period.

Methes Energies will provide a certification letter from our fabricator stating that the Denami 600 is engineered to produce ASTM biodiesel. Your Methes representative would be pleased to show you third party lab results confirming ASTM quality production.

16’ long, 11’ wide, 16’ high

Boiler 250,000 BTU
Chiller 15 Tonnes
Nitrogen 10 CFM, 90psi
Electricity 3 phase, 480 volts, 65 amps

55,000 liter (14,500 gallon) tanks are optimal for a single Denami 600 installation. Additional or other size tanks would be sized according to your building dimensions, operational requirements or production volumes.

3500 square feet with a 22 foot ceiling works great for a single installation. As additional Denami 600 units are required, Methes will assist in designing your plant by providing conceptual drawing for your use.

At present, most major engine manufacturers in the United States have indicated that use of blends of up to B20 (20% biodiesel + 80% petrodiesel) will not void their parts and workmanship warranties. Some companies have specified that the biodiesel must meet the American Society for Testing and Materials standard ASTM D 6751 as a condition, and other companies are considering making ASTM D 6751 their specification.

ASTM specifications for biodiesel do not necessarily match those being used in Europe, Brazil, or other countries, but efforts are ongoing to harmonize them. ASTM D 6751 outlines the specifications for B100.1

The truck driver who has just purchased a tank of biodiesel or biodiesel blend may not be interested in or care about its density or the amount of sulfur in it. But if that trucker’s vehicle subsequently quits working owing to a clogged filter, that driver is not going to rationalize the problem by saying,“Well, it was only one tankful of biodiesel that was off-spec.” That driver may decide to solve the problem by never purchasing biodiesel again.

There are legal issues too. According to J.W. Kram in the Biodiesel Magazine (April 2007), (i) consumers are going to assume that, for example, the B5 fuel they purchased is the same as the B5 fuel the vehicle manufacturer specified, which was based on ASTM specifications. A fuel dealer selling out-of-spec biodiesel is thus committing fraud; (ii) Biodiesel that meets ASTM specifications is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If it is out of specifications, it is not a legal fuel. (iii) Incentive programs to encourage biodiesel use in the United States are based on tax credits granted by the Internal Revenue Service, and only ASTM D 6751 biodiesel is recognized for those credits. Selling out of spec biodiesel thus constitutes tax fraud.

Physical properties. The density of a biodiesel fuel does not per se indicate its energy content, but as a generalization, energy differences between fuels are reflected as density differences. The lower kinematic viscosity, or resistance to flow, of biodiesel compared with that of neat vegetable oil explains why biodiesel is used instead of the pure vegetable oil, which when burned in ordinary diesel engines creates engine deposits. Kinematic viscosity also can be used as a metric for quality of biodiesel during storage, since viscosity increases as quality decreases.

Fuel properties. The cetane number test measures the tendency of the fuel to self-ignite at the temperatures and pressures present in the cylinder when the fuel is injected. Higher cetane numbers indicate short ignition delays and little premixed combustion.

Water can be present in biodiesel owing to incomplete removal in the manufacturing process or to absorption during storage. Biodiesel fuels containing excessive amounts of water can quickly cause irreversible damage to the engines in which they are burned. Additionally, water reduces the heat of combustion of the bulk fuel; it freezes to form ice crystals near 0°C, providing sites for nucleation and accelerating the gelling of the residual fuel; and it accelerates the growth of microbial contaminants, which can then plug up a fuel system.

Sulfur compounds in diesel can be corrosive to metals, particularly copper. As a measure of corrosivity, polished copper strips are held in the fuel for a pre-set time to evaluate this propensity. Limited tarnish does not cause the fuel to fail the test, but corrosion does.

The presence of glycerin in biodiesel, whether free or in combined form as mono-, di-, or triacylglycerol, indicates its incomplete removal in the generation of the fuel. Residual glycerin does not burn well and can lead to injector coking, reduced storage, and filter plugging due to sediment formation.

Specifications for sodium and potassium are included as an indication of the thoroughness of the separation of biodiesel from the catalyst (KOH or Na-OH) used in its manufacture. Low levels of calcium and magnesium in (bio)diesel are of concern because they can participate in soap formation and can plug the particulate traps that are being introduced on diesel vehicles to reduce emissions. Sulfated ash analysis can serve as a proxy for determining the presence of Ca,Mg, Na, and K, as well as Ba and Sn; S, P, and Cl would also be included.

Flash point describes the lowest temperature at which a combustible mixture can form above a liquid fuel. In biodiesel, flash point specification serves to limit the content of alcohol, which degrades some plastics and is corrosive. The presence of excessive alcohol is also a safety issue. In some situations, determination of flash point can be substituted by a determination of alcohol content.

Traces of phosphorus, derived from phospholipids in vegetable oils, can remain after conversion of oils to biodiesel and subsequently poison the catalysts used to reduce diesel engine exhaust emissions. Measurable amounts of acid, as acid value or free fatty acids, are undesirable for their effects on cold flow properties of biodiesel and for the resultant deposits on fuel injectors and in cylinders

The distillation temperature is a measurement of the amount of fuel that vaporizes with increasing temperature. The ASTM specification stipulates that at 360°C, 90% of the fuel will have volatilized (distilled). This parameter relates to the viscosity of the fuel, its vapor pressure heating value, and average molecular weight and in general indicates the suitability of the fuel for the desired purposes.

A test for carbon residue indicates the tendency of the sample to form deposits under conditions of degradation (500°C).

Storage properties. The waxes in petrodiesel are known for their tendency to agglomerate when temperatures are low enough, plugging fuel filters. Biodiesel has this tendency too, although monoacyl-, diacyl-, and triacylglycerols (and in some cases, sterol glucosides: see inform 18:383–384, 2007) are the culprits, unlike the long-chain hydrocarbons in petrodiesel. Measurements of cloud point, the temperature at which a cloud appears at the first stage of crystallization, and cold filter-plugging point indicate whether a fuel has met the ASTM specifications for diesel/biodiesel, and gives an estimate of operating temperature limits and cold flow properties.

A major issue in the storage of any fuel is its stability to oxidation. Biodiesel is especially prone to oxidation because of its content of esters of the unsaturated linoleic and linolenic acids. The European methods call for use of the Rancimat method to determine the oxidative stability of biodiesel and this has recently been adopted by ASTM. Adherence to the specification prevents the accumulation of sediment and gums.

The Denami 600 has been designed to produce ASTM quality biodiesel from virtually any natural oil. Oils tested to-date are beef tallow, Clear White Grease (pork), Chicken fat, Soy Oil, Canola Oil and Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) with the following specifications:

Calcium and Magnesium, combined	EN14538	5 max ppm (ug/g)
Sulphur	D5453	0.0015 max (15) % mass (ppm)
Phosphorus content	D4951	0.001 max % mass
Sodium and Potassium	EN14538	5 max ppm (ug/g)
FFA	D5555	4 max % mass
Water	EN ISO 12937	0.3 max % mass
Insolubles		0.2 max % mass

Chart of Comparison between the different Denami 600 Product offerings

An physical access key will be supplied with the Denami 600 which has an encrypted license key unique to every Denami 600 deployed. The access key will also keep track of the production rate of the Denami 600. Once every quarter, a license fee of 0.03 per liter of production is due and the the counter on the access key is resetted.

The following tests are included:

Gas Chromatograph (ASTM 6584)
Water in Sediment (ASTM 2709)
Flash Point Tester (ASTM D93)

You can send up to 3 samples of biodiesel for testing. Within 48 hrs upon receipt of the samples, Methes will provide the results for the 3 tests electronically. The same tests performed by a qualified lab will costs around $300 per sample for all 3 tests listed above.

With this service, there is no need for a capital investment in lab equipment or hire costly technical staff to monitor the quality of your biodiesel production.

Methes has contracted various reputable laboratories thoughout North America and has one of the most competitive pricing and turnaround times in the industry. You can take advantage of this program and send the samples to be tested.

As part of the license agreement, all parts are covered. If a part needs replacement, we will ship the part out and send out a licensed technican for an on-site service call at no cost to you for up to $25,000 per year. There is no limit for the 1st year of production.

A phone number will be provided and help is available 24/7. Our specialize call center can quickly diagnose via our state of the art online monitoring platform. If the problem cannot be resolved remotely or a part needs replacement, we will send out a licensed technican to your site.

Methes pride ourselves as a innovator and allocates resources in R&D to develop new technologies. As these technologies emerges, our existing clients will be the first to know. Due to the modular design of the Denami 600, upgrade are painless and require little or no downtime.

Methes have feedstock which you can purchase. You can sign-up of either a 1 year, 3 year or a 5 year supply contract for your plant. The types of feedstock will depend on your location and supply in your area.

Methes will provide up to 10 days of on-site commissioning and training support. The training is a 3 day course and up to 3 individuals. During the training, you will need to have feedstock available for at least a 24 hr run as we will be training you on all aspects of producing biodiesel.

A site validation is a visit by a Methes Energies professional who will review the features of your proposed property to determine its suitability. Following the visit Methes will prepare a report to identify positives, needs, renovations and negative attributes. Methes will provide a site validation following a client’s contractual commitment and an initial deposit on your system.