Apr 18 2008
Nova Biosource Fuels, Inc., a refiner and marketer of ASTM quality biodiesel, announced today its progress at commissioning and completing two biodiesel refineries. Commissioning of the first train of its 60 million gallon per year biodiesel refinery in Seneca, Illinois began on March 31, 2008.
It is currently producing biodiesel from low free fatty acid animal fats and vegetable oils at approximately 75% of rated capacity, having produced approximately 450,000 gallons of biodiesel as of April 11, 2008. Nova anticipates gradually changing the mix of feedstock to incorporate lower cost, higher free fatty acid content feedstocks through the remaining commissioning process and then begin commissioning the remaining 20 million gallon per year trains.
At the 20 million gallon per year biodiesel refinery built for Scott Petroleum Corporation in Greenville, Mississippi, a mechanical pump failure resulted in damage to the refinery. The refinery had previously been operated at full capacity. For example, during its performance test run in February, the refinery processed variable free fatty acid feedstock (primarily choice white grease with some poultry fat and fish oil with an average free fatty acid level of 4 to 5%) and the output of finished ASTM D 6751 quality biodiesel was measured in excess of 2,400 gallons per hour, or about 100%+ of rated nameplate throughput. The owner has commenced cleanup and repairs and a Nova engineering team is on site to consult with the owner to assess the situation and further develop the repair plan.
"We are pleased with the progress at the Seneca refinery," said Kenneth T. Hern, Chairman and CEO of Nova. "Our commissioning team is doing a fantastic job of producing biodiesel that exceeds the ASTM standards. We are disappointed with the pump failure at the Scott biodiesel refinery and hope that repairs to the facility will be completed to bring it back to nameplate capacity as quickly as possible."