While it doesn’t require a map to illustrate the growth of biodiesel, Biodiesel Magazine identifies 75 biodiesel producers in the United States and Canada with another 36 plants identified as being under construction.(1) This reference omitted at least four known to be under development just in Illinois. Suffice it to state that both biodiesel and ethanol production facilities are receiving substantial investment attention.
Many of the initially constructed biodiesel facilities utilize only soy oil. Of the current manufacturing facilities, approximately 63 percent use soy oil as their primary feedstock. Facilities under construction indicate an increased trend for animal fats and multifeedstock usage. This trend, coupled with the increased usage of animal fat sources for biofuel (burner fuel), has certainly resulted in a greater market opportunity for rendered fats, greases, and oils.
Certainly there are numerous potentiating factors one could cite for the enhanced interest in animal fats as alternative fuel uses. Primary has been a universal partnership for making the North American countries less reliant on foreign energy sources. Though there have been many special interest groups presenting different opinions, the continuance for an increasing dependence on foreign sourced energy is highly accepted as very negative by a strong majority of the populace. The negative influence on our security, economy, and environment are commonly recognized. Secondly, the category of rendered fats, greases, and oils currently comprise approximately one-third of the total annual U.S. production of fats and oils. This resource as provided by the rendering industry has been researched for its biofuel uses for both efficacy and safety.
The Fats and Proteins Research Foundation, Inc. (FPRF), initiated biofuel research in the early 1990s. Certainly historical documents reference the dependence on animal fat usage for light and heat dating back several centuries and always have been appreciated for their industrial energy contributions. But most recently the biodiesel initiative was coordinated with the National Biodiesel Board, followed soon after with exploration for using the respective animal fats as alternative burner fuel. A major study of legendary significance was completed at the University of Georgia that set the stage for an enhanced opportunity in this marketplace. The rendering industry cooperated in providing environmental and emissions data to support the accordance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Renderers and their products certainly serve an important role in providing feedstock for the biofuel supply chain.
However, concerns and questions were initiated and still surface regarding their safety for these intended purposes. Queries referencing both biological and toxological potential risks have been registered. FPRF Director’s Digest #329 addressed biodiesel and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, while providing an initial assurance for any associative risk factors.(2) Subsequent research and available literature now provide further assurance. The following is a review of available literature pertaining to the safety of rendered animal fats as biodiesel feedstocks. The author does not allege the in-depth review to have accessed every available literature source but is the interpretation result of a commissioned project that began in 2004. It engaged the services of scientists with substantial expertise and experience from both Europe and North America.(3) (4)
“Biodiesel from Specified Risk Material Tallow: An Appraisal of TSE Risks and their Reduction” is to be published by the Advanced Technologies and Fuels Canada, Inc. (ATFCAN).(3) “The Safety of Animal Fats for Biodiesel Production: A Critical Review of Literature” was conducted by Clemson University and submitted to ATFCAN for review and publication.(4)
Biodiesel produced from animals infected with a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) poses a negligible risk to animal and public health. This conclusion extends to the use of animal fat derived from animals infected with TSE and even to the use of specified risk material as a source of tallow. Experimental evidence shows that rendered tallow from infected animal tissues does not transmit disease to inoculated susceptible animals. However, an absolute zero-risk assessment cannot be made when evaluating nearly all scientific documents designed to evaluate risk. This is particularly true for those addressing human/animal health or injury. Negligible in medical terms denotes “conditions not worthy of noticing.” The list of possible contaminants included in the above references extended to the review of over 3,000 publications for microbial, organic/inorganic chemicals, or agents.
The overall conclusion of a negligible associative risk undoubtedly does not negate all uncertainty or the persistence of doubt. Communicating risk is a difficult process but an integral part of the risk analysis process. Uncertainties exist in every scientific interpretation. The interpretations of these reports are not different. Moreover, risk management efforts are proven to be very successful. This article does not allow for the ancillary scientifically based precautions and procedures already implemented enhancing the safety of rendered animal fats, greases, and oils. There is a great deal of difference between a potential risk and a real quantified risk. The overall conclusion of the ominous task provided by the process of identifying and reviewing these reports is that the general public is unlikely to be exposed to any risk beyond negligible.
Several of the references cited contained substantiation for negligible risk from direct human and animal exposures (i.e., presence in feed or water) to potential contaminants in rendered animal fats than could likely ever occur with the use of the fat as a biofuel. The review focused on potential safety concerns that may occur during the manufacture, transportation, storage, and combustion of biofuels made from rendered animal fats. No linkages were identified between the use of animal fats for biodiesel and any biological or chemical hazard. No scientific referenced studies were reported concerning any contaminating residue due to the use of animal fats in the biodiesel manufacturing process and use. The production and combustion of biodiesel involves numerous process reactions and it is concluded that those conditions will also be conducive to chemical, thermal, and physical degradation of biological and organic chemical agents. The same conclusion can be made for biofuels derived from rendered animal fats.
Rendered animal fats are produced with a number of safeguards and processes that regulate both fats, greases, and oils used for food, feed, and industrial applications. These safeguards provide monitoring for any potential hazards. By virtue of these procedures that focus on water, air emissions, and directed at human and animal exposure and the environmental consequences also impact the safety of these products as biofuel feedstocks.
Rendered animal fats will continue to provide valuable resources in meeting the world demand for energy sources. Certainly the industry, and regulatory and legislative bodies have recognized their importance. Alternative fuels and alternative fuel mixtures coupled with their associative uses and credits necessitate a review of the future marketplace. The food (feed) versus fuel usage controversies will potentiate. The documentation for the safety of rendered animal co-products for both markets continues to build. R
References
1. Biodiesel Magazine. November 2006.
2. Pearl, G.G., and L. Tong. March 2004. “Biodiesel and BSE.” Fats and Proteins Research Foundation Director’s Digest #329.
3. Baribeau, Anne-Marie; et al. 2006. “Biodiesel from Specified Risk Materials Tallow: An Appraisal of TSE Risks and their Reduction.” Advanced Technology and Fuels Canada, Inc.
4. Greene, Annel K.; Paul L. Dawson; David Nixon; Jennifer R. Atkins; and Gary Pearl. 2006. “Safety of Animal Fats for Biodiesel Production: A Critical Review of Literature.” Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Poole Agriculture Center, Clemson University.
Dr. Pearl and Veterinary Associates P/S are located in Bloomington, IL. He is past president and director of technical services of the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation and is an adjunct professor, Clemson University.
Tech Topics - February 2007 Render