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The photo above is a before-and-after shot of a spontaneous combustion experiment we have been conducting. Spontaneous combustion can be a problem in biodiesel plants, where rags or sawdust soaked in biodiesel or oil can spontaneously ignite, causing serious fires. We want to know: under what circumstances will material soaked in biodiesel or oil spontaneously ignite? The mesh enclosure on the right contained sawdust soaked in boiled linseed oil (which tends to oxidize rapidly) and biodiesel. This was left out in the sun for five hours, and reached an internal temperature of 300 degrees C. It burned sometime during the night. Our experiments continue. For more information, contact Joe Thompson at joet@uidaho.edu.

• Faster Biodiesel Processing with Ultrasound-Assisted Reactors -- Ultrasound is a promising technology for biodiesel production. This new two-page Tech Note provides an overview of how ultrasound processing works, as well as information on companies that sell ultrasonic reactors.
• Engines and Vehicles Used for Biodiesel Testing -- For over 30 years, the University of Idaho has conducted tests and experiments with biodiesel. This is a summary of our pioneering early work with engines and vehicles.
• Renewable Energy and Biodiesel Curriculum -- This seven-lesson curriculum for ages 8-12 was written for 4-H clubs, but can be used in elementary schools as well.
• Using Adsorbents to Lower FFA Levels in Biodiesel Feedstocks -- A two-page Tech Note on new research on adsorbents, including Magnesol 600R

• Latest study: Biodiesel yields 5.54 times the fossil energy used to make it -- This latest energy life cycle analysis uses 2006 data.

• Biodiesel Articles on eXtension -- "eXtension" (pronounced E-Extension) is a wiki for extension professors from universities around the country. The Biodiesel Education Team at the University of Idaho has contributed a number of articles to the biodiesel section of eXtension.