By Kyle Shenk ’06


I was first introduced to biodiesel a few years ago when I met a man who was running an old diesel truck exclusively on the fuel he derived from waste vegetable oil.

I was amazed and inspired by the idea it is possible to create an inexpensive fuel from a waste product that is readily available in virtually every community across the country. After all, waste vegetable oils can be collected from any restaurant that utilizes deep fryers and then chemically altered into biodiesel fuel.

Almost immediately I began searching for ways to apply this technology locally. I first attempted to locate individuals in the area who were currently producing biodiesel and who could offer advice or assistance. I learned that Wilson College had been producing biodiesel for about a year at its Fulton Center for Sustainable Living. I visited the farm, saw the processor, and met with Matt Steiman, the program manager. After this visit, I was eager to intern at the Center. In Spring 2005, with a six-credit internship, I learned, among other sustainable technologies and skills, how to build and operate a small-scale biodiesel processor for personal use.

The biodiesel fuel that is a result of processing waste vegetable oils can perform in any unmodified diesel engine. It is a much cleaner burning fuel that traditional diesel and can be domestically produced at a sustainable rate.

One of the beauties of biodiesel is the ability to be used by itself or mixed with any percentage of standard petroleum-based diesel. It lubricates and extends engine life. Use of biodiesel fuels is equated with reductions in emissions, primarily sulfates, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. It also can be produced domestically and could lessen our reliance on foreign oil. And it can be produced at an average rate of 85 cents per gallon.

While my interest in biodiesel echoes its recent surge in popularity it is important to note this is not a new trend for the diesel industry. The first diesel engine, invented by Rudolf Diesel and unveiled at the 1900 World’s Fair was designed to run on peanut oil. The driving (pardon the pun) force behind the original invention was to create a low-cost alternative to gasoline engines that would allow farmers to grow their own fuel. Even today, commercially produced biodiesel is usually made from either soy or canola oils.
The original diesel engine was created to run on straight vegetable oil but due to climatic conditions in south-central Pennsylvania and the design of current engines, the oil needs to be processed into biodiesel fuel. This fuel is the result of mixing vegetable oil with methanol and lye to trigger a reaction called transesterification. This chemical reaction reduces the viscosity of the oil by replacing glycerol in the fatty acid chains with methanol, creating methyl esters. The glycerol, which separates from the fuel, is the main by-product. This dark, glycerin-rich substance can be used in soaps and cleaners or it can be safely composted.

Thanks to generous funding from the College of Arts and Sciences and the support of dedicated faculty and staff members, we are currently designing a program to implement the use of a small-scale biodiesel processor here on campus. This interdisciplinary program will collect the waste f

yer oil from the on-campus dining halls and produce biodiesel for use in campus-owned vehicles.

The plan is to build the processor over the summer and familiarize interested individuals with the fuel-making process so that the processor is ready for use as an academic tool for the fall semester. Not to mention creating actual biodiesel fuel.

The inception and implementation of this project is an important step towards the increased sustainability and environmental conscience of Shippensburg University.

I believe we are truly approaching a pivotal point in history as the finite resources we have relied upon so heavily for our energy needs become obsolete and cleaner, healthier, and sustainable technologies become available. The environmental and societal costs of traditional energy production are becoming increasingly obvious and impossible to ignore. Sustainable energy solutions are paramount to the continued use of personal and commercial automobiles.

The Shippensburg University biodiesel program will allow students to obtain hands-on experience with an emerging and applicable alternative energy technology.

While biodiesel and other alternative energies are a step in the right direction, there is an underlying necessity to reduce our overall consumption of energy, especially from petroleum-based sources. I hope this program will serve as a catalyst for education, enlightenment, and action by the campus community towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.

Additional notes:

  • The funds for the processing unit became available after Kyle made a presentation to the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board. At the luncheon following the meeting, the board, impressed by Kyle’s presentation and the modest cost of the proposed project collected enough cash in minutes to pay for the equipment.
  • Kyle’s plans for Shippensburg are based on what he has observed at Wilson College’s Fulton Center for Sustainable Living. Wilson has eliminated its grease disposal contract and uses its biodiesel fuel in maintenance and grounds-keeping vehicles.
  • Kyle is working with biology professors Todd Hurd and Tim Maret, geography/earth science professor Claire Jantz, and chemistry professor John Richardson to create a similar program on campus.
  • Visit www.biodiesel.infopop.cc (a discussion board) and www.biodieselnow.com.

Kyle Shenk ’06

Hometown: Landisville

Major: Geoenvironmental Studies

Campus Activities: Student Environmental Action Coalition, Environmental Steering Committee, Volunteer Services Organization

Future Goals: After completing my master’s, I hope to pursue a career in land preservation or sustainable design.