Michigan project to 'green' waste facility
November 10, 2006
BY Dave Nilles
A unique Michigan project will convert a hazardous waste treatment facility into a plant capable of producing biodiesel.
Steve DiMaggio, CEO of Inkster, Mich.-based Advanced Resource Recovery LLC (ARR), is developing a 10 MMgy biodiesel plant called Advanced Biofuels LLC. The biodiesel plant, which is an addition to ARR's industrial waste recycling and treatment capabilities, will utilize existing infrastructure at the facility just outside of Detroit.
The move to biodiesel is a result of the loss of major manufacturing facilities that supplied ARR with waste. "Our industry is changing," DiMaggio said. "Much of the Midwest manufacturing has left the area."
The existing facility treats liquid manufacturing waste. For example, DiMaggio said he obtains an oil emulsion from General Motors. ARR then separates the water, oil and solids. The oil is resold to companies such as asphalt manufacturers and the wastewater is treated at an on-site treatment plant. The remaining solids are pressed and put in a landfill.
DiMaggio said the volume of liquid waste has dropped to the point where biodiesel became a viable venture. "Biodiesel happened to fit in perfectly," he said, referring to his plant's infrastructure.
Equipment is being purchased for the project, DiMaggio said. He said he expects to start construction in spring of 2007 and have the plant operational by November 2007. The plant will use soy oil as feedstock.
DiMaggio said the plant will be built and designed in-house, adding that engineering is underway. The biggest change in infrastructure will be to safely handle methanol, which is a flammable alcohol used to produce biodiesel.
The project received $1.9 million in financial help from the state's 2006 21st Century Jobs Fund. "A facility that was once part of a dying industry can be recycled to bring jobs, community revitalization and environmental stewardship to the 21st century," ARR's proposal said.
The 21st Century Jobs Fund is a $2 billion, 10-year initiative administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to accelerate the diversification of Michigan's economy. The commercialization component of the initiative devotes approximately $800 million for competitive-edge technologies in the targeted sectors of life sciences, alternative energy, advanced automotive materials and manufacturing and homeland security/defense.
Michigan currently has two operating biodiesel plants. Ag Solutions Inc. produces 5 MMgy near Gladstone, and Michigan Biodiesel LLC completed work on its 10 MMgy plant in Bangor earlier this month. There are several projects under development.
Dave Nilles is Online Editor for Biodiesel Magazine. Reach him at dnilles@bbibiofuels.com or (701) 373-0636.
Posted: 2:55 p.m. CST Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Steve DiMaggio, CEO of Inkster, Mich.-based Advanced Resource Recovery LLC (ARR), is developing a 10 MMgy biodiesel plant called Advanced Biofuels LLC. The biodiesel plant, which is an addition to ARR's industrial waste recycling and treatment capabilities, will utilize existing infrastructure at the facility just outside of Detroit.
The move to biodiesel is a result of the loss of major manufacturing facilities that supplied ARR with waste. "Our industry is changing," DiMaggio said. "Much of the Midwest manufacturing has left the area."
The existing facility treats liquid manufacturing waste. For example, DiMaggio said he obtains an oil emulsion from General Motors. ARR then separates the water, oil and solids. The oil is resold to companies such as asphalt manufacturers and the wastewater is treated at an on-site treatment plant. The remaining solids are pressed and put in a landfill.
DiMaggio said the volume of liquid waste has dropped to the point where biodiesel became a viable venture. "Biodiesel happened to fit in perfectly," he said, referring to his plant's infrastructure.
Equipment is being purchased for the project, DiMaggio said. He said he expects to start construction in spring of 2007 and have the plant operational by November 2007. The plant will use soy oil as feedstock.
DiMaggio said the plant will be built and designed in-house, adding that engineering is underway. The biggest change in infrastructure will be to safely handle methanol, which is a flammable alcohol used to produce biodiesel.
The project received $1.9 million in financial help from the state's 2006 21st Century Jobs Fund. "A facility that was once part of a dying industry can be recycled to bring jobs, community revitalization and environmental stewardship to the 21st century," ARR's proposal said.
The 21st Century Jobs Fund is a $2 billion, 10-year initiative administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to accelerate the diversification of Michigan's economy. The commercialization component of the initiative devotes approximately $800 million for competitive-edge technologies in the targeted sectors of life sciences, alternative energy, advanced automotive materials and manufacturing and homeland security/defense.
Michigan currently has two operating biodiesel plants. Ag Solutions Inc. produces 5 MMgy near Gladstone, and Michigan Biodiesel LLC completed work on its 10 MMgy plant in Bangor earlier this month. There are several projects under development.
Dave Nilles is Online Editor for Biodiesel Magazine. Reach him at dnilles@bbibiofuels.com or (701) 373-0636.
Posted: 2:55 p.m. CST Tuesday, November 21, 2006
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