C

Calcium Stereate - Soap Scum or soap containing one calcium atom and two fatty acid chains. It is sometimes formed when biodiesel is washed in hard water.

California Air Resources Board (CARB) -The state agency that regulates the air quality in California. CARB standards are often stricter than federal standards.

California Low-Emission Vehicle Program - State requirement for automakers to produce vehicles with fewer emissions than current U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) standards. The four categories of California Low-Emission Vehicle Program standards from least to most stringent are transitional low emission vehicles (TLEVs), low emission vehicles (LEVs), ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), and zero emission vehicles (ZEVs).

California Pilot Program - Federal program, administered by EPA under the Clean Air Act, which sets lower emission standards (relative to cars in the general U.S. market) for a set number of new passenger cars and light trucks sold in California. Beginning in 1996, the program will require the sale of 150,000 clean vehicles in the state. In 1999 that number increased to 300,000 annually. California must mandate availability of any fuel necessary to operate clean fuel vehicles.

Canola - a trademarked hybrid of rape initially bred in Canada. Bred for low acid levels.

Capacity -The maximum power that a machine or system can produce or carry safely. The maximum instantaneous output of a resource under specified conditions. The capacity of generating equipment is generally expressed in kilowatts or megawatts.

Capital Cost - The total investment needed to complete a project and bring it to a commercially operable status. The cost of construction of a new plant. The expenditures for the purchase or acquisition of existing facilities.

Carbohydrate - A chemical compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Includes sugars, cellulose, and starches.

Carbonation - Combining with Carbon dioxide. When NaOH is left exposed to air CO2 from the air will form Sodium Carbonate from the Sodium Hydroxide making it useless for making biodiesel.

Carbon Chain - The atomic structure of hydrocarbons in which a series of carbon atoms, saturated by hydrogen atoms, form a chain. Volatile oils have shorter chains. Fats have longer chain lengths, and waxes have extremely long chains.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - A product of combustion that has become an environmental concern in recent years. CO2 does not directly impair human health, but is a greenhouse gas that traps the Earth's heat and contributes to the potential for global warming.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) - A colorless, odorless gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels with a limited oxygen supply, as in automobile engines. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CO contributes to the formation of smog ground-level ozone, which can trigger serious respiratory problems.

Carbon-neutrality – Generally carbon neutrality refers to the balance maintained when a fossil fuel is burned, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, and the use of a renewable fuel to produce a comparable amount of energy so that the net balance of CO2 emissions are balanced with CO2 used to produce the renewable energy source.

Carbon sequestration – Carbon sequestration is the process of removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Current technology research and development seeks to capture and store the CO2 and store it in sinks, while releasing oxygen (O2) into the atmosphere. The process of carbon capture and storage is often referred to as CCS.

Carbon sink - A geographical area whose vegetation and/or soil soaks up significant carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Such areas, typically in tropical regions, are increasingly being sacrificed for energy crop production.

Carboxyl - The univalent radical, COOH, the functional group characteristic of all organic acids.

Carcinogens - Chemicals and other substances known to cause cancer.

Catalyst - A substance whose presence changes the rate of chemical reaction without itself undergoing permanent change in its composition. Catalysts may be accelerators or retarders. Most inorganic catalysts are powdered metals and metal oxides, chiefly used in the petroleum, vehicle, and heavy chemical industries. In biodiesel production NaOH and KOH are the catalyst for transesterfication. While they are used in the saponification side reaction, they are still considered a catalyst since without a strong metallic base, transesterfication would not take place.

Cellulase - Enzymes that act to degrade cellulose. Cellulases are produced commonly by fungal and microbial organisms.

Cellulose - The carbohydrate that is the principal constituent of wood and other biomass and forms the structural framework of the wood cells. It is a polymer of glucose with a repeating unit of C6H10O5 strung together by ß-glycosidic linkages. The ß-linkages in cellulose form linear chains that are highly stable and resistant to chemical attack because of the high degree of hydrogen bonding that can occur between chains of cellulose. Hydrogen bonding between cellulose chains makes the polymers more rigid, inhibiting the flexing of the molecules that must occur in the hydrolytic breaking of the glycosidic linkages. Hydrolysis can reduce cellulose to a cellobiose repeating unit, C12H22O11, and ultimately to glucose, C6H12O6. Heating values for cellulose may be slightly different based upon the feedstock.

Cellulosic ethanol - Cellulosic ethanol or cellanol is ethanol fuel produced from cellulose, a naturally occurring complex carbohydrate polymer commonly found in plant cell walls. Cellulosic ethanol is chemically identical to ethanol from other sources, such as corn or sugar, and is available in a great diversity of biomass including waste from urban, agricultural, and forestry sources. However, it differs in that it requires an extra processing step called cellulolysis -- breaking cellulose down into sugars. Cellulosic ethanol has been for sale commercially since 2004.

CEQ - Council on Environmental Quality. An advisory council to the President established by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The CEQ reviews federal programs for their effect on the environment, conducts environmental studies, and advises the president on environmental matters.

Certification of Higher Learning in Alternative Motorfuels Program (CHAMP) - A national program established by DOE to implement Section 411 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Cetane - Ignition performance rating of diesel fuel. Diesel equivalent to gasoline octane.

Cetane Number - Measure of fuel ignition characteristics. Like the octane number used for gasoline, the higher the value, the better the fuel performance. A higher cetane number correlates with improved combustion, improved cold starting, reduced noise, white smoke, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate emissions particularly during early warm-up phase. The EPA uses this parameter as a measure of aromatic content in fuel.

Cetane Rating - Measure of diesel’s combustion quality

cfm - Cubic feet per minute (1000 cfm = 0.472 cubic meters per second, m3/s)

Char - The remains of solid biomass that has been incompletely combusted, such as charcoal if wood is incompletely burned.

Chips - Small fragments of wood chopped or broken by mechanical equipment. Total tree chips include wood, bark, and foliage. Pulp chips or clean chips are free of bark and foliage.

Chlorofluorocarbon - A family of chemicals composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine. Used principally as refrigerants and industrial cleansers. Chlorofluorocarbons have the tendency to destroy the Earth’s protective ozone layer.

Clarifier - A tank used to remove solids by gravity, to remove colloidal solids by coagulation, and to remove floating oil and scum through skimming.

Class I Area - Any area designated for the most stringent protection from air quality degradation.

Class II Area - Any area where air is cleaner than required by federal air quality standards and designated for a moderate degree of protection from air quality degradation. Moderate increases in new pollution may be permitted in Class II areas.

Clean Air Act (CAA) - Signed into law in 1963, then amended in 1970, and again in 1990 (see Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990). Includes emissions standard for mobile and stationary sources. Enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) - Amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 created two new gasoline standards designed to reduce harmful fuel emissions for vehicles in highly polluted cities. The Act required gasoline to contain cleaner burning additives called fuel oxygenates such as ethanol. This Act recognized that changes in motor fuels and fuel composition would play a vital role in reducing pollution from motor vehicle exhaust.

Clean Cities Program - A voluntary program established and administered by DOE to increase AFV market penetration, particularly in more polluted urban areas. Clean Cities chapters are recognized by DOE as having successfully established a sulf-sustaining environment for AFVs. Specific chapters may include federal, state, and local government agencies, vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, fleet managers, utilities, local distribution companies, and other stakeholders. The first international entities joined the program in 1995.

Clean Diesel - An evolving definition of diesel fuel with lower emission specifications, which strictly limit sulfur content to 0.05 weight %; in California, aromatics content is further limited to 10 volume % (for large refiners).

Clean Fuel - Any fuel or power source that is used to certify a vehicle to the LEV, ILEV, ULEV, SULEV, or ZEV standard.

Clean Fuel Fleet Program - Implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a provision of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 to require cities with significant air quality problems to incorporate vehicles that will meet clean fuel emissions standards.

Clean Fuel Vehicle (CFV) - Any vehicle certified by EPA as meeting certain federal emissions standards. The three categories of federal CFV standards from least to most stringent are low emission vehicles (LEVs), ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs), and zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). The inherently low emission vehicle (ILEV) standard is voluntary and does not need to be adopted by states as part of the Clean-Fuel Fleet Program. CFVs are eligible for two federal programs, the California Pilot Program and the Clean-Fuel Fleet Program. CFV exhaust emissions standards for light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks are numerically similar to those of CARB's California Low-Emission Vehicle Program.

Coarse Materials - Wood residues suitable for chipping, such as slabs, edgings, and trimmings.
Closed-Loop Carburetion - System in which the fuel/air ratio in the engine is carefully controlled to optimize emissions performance. A closed-loop system uses a fuel metering correction signal to optimize fuel metering.

Cloud Point - The temperature at which the first wax crystals appear and a standardized ASTM test protocol is used to determine this temperature.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) - Federal regulations published by the Office of the Federal Registrar, National Archives, and Records Service of the General Services Administration.

Cogeneration - The sequential production of electricity and useful thermal energy from a common fuel source.

Coking – The formation of harmful carbon deposits on internal components of diesel engines.

Column - A vertical, cylindrical vessel used to increase the degree of separation of liquid mixtures by distillation or extraction.

Colloid - A stable system of small particles dispersed in something else. A multi-phase system in which one dimension of a dispersed phase is of colloidal size. Colloids are the liquid and solid forms of aerosols, foams, emulsions, and suspensions within the colloidal size class. Milk and smoke are both colloids. Colloidal size is typically.001 micron to 1 micron in any dimension. Dispersions where the particle size is in this range are referred to as colloidal aerosols, colloidal emulsions, colloidal foams, or colloidal suspensions.

Colloidal size - 0.001 micron to 1 micron in any dimension. Dispersions where the particle size is in this range are referred to as colloidal aerosols, colloidal emulsions, colloidal foams, or colloidal suspensions.

Colza - Eurasian plant cultivated for its seed and as a forage crop.

Combined Cycle - Two or more generation processes in series or in parallel, configured to optimize the energy output of the system. Combined-Cycle Power Plant: The combination of a gas turbine and a steam turbine in an electric generation plant. The waste heat from the gas turbine provides the heat energy for the steam turbine.

Combined Heat and Power - (CHP) See Cogeneration.

Commercial Forest Land - Forested land which is capable of producing new growth at a minimum rate of 20 cubic feet per acre/per year, excluding lands withdrawn from timber production by statute or administrative regulation.

Commercial Species - Tree species suitable for industrial wood products.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) - Natural gas that has been compressed under high pressures, typically 2000 to 3600 psi, held in a container. The gas expands when used as a fuel.

Compression Ignition - The form of ignition that initiates combustion in a diesel engine. The rapid compression of air within the cylinders generates the heat required to ignite the fuel as it is injected.

Combustion - The transformation of biomass fuel into heat, chemicals, and gases through chemical combination of hydrogen and carbon in the fuel with oxygen in the air.

Combustion Air - The air fed to a fire to provide oxygen for combustion of fuel. It may be preheated before injection into a furnace.

Combustion Burning - The transformation of biomass fuel into heat, chemicals, and gases through chemical combination of hydrogen and carbon in the fuel with oxygen in the air.

Combustion Efficiency - (actual heat produced by combustion) divided by (total heat potential of the fuel consumed).

Combustion Gases - The gases released from a combustion process.

Compound - A chemical term denoting a combination of two or more distinct elements.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) - Natural gas that has been compressed under high pressure (typically 2000 to 3600 psi).

Compression-Ignition Engine - An engine in which the fuel is ignited by high temperature caused by extreme pressure in the cylinder, rather than by a spark from a spark plug. Diesel engines are compression-ignition engines.

Concentration - The ratio of mass or volume of solute present in a solution to the amount of solvent. The quantity of ethyl alcohol (or sugar) present in a known quantity of water.
Concentrated acid hydrolysis – concentrated acid hydrolysis is a method of converting biomass into cellulosic ethanol.

Condenser - A heat-transfer device that reduces a fluid from a vapor phase to a liquid phase.
Conditional Use Permit - A permit, with conditions, allowing an approved use on a site outside the appropriate zoning class.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program - A federal grant program established by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act of 1991 that allocates funds to states to help them simultaneously expand or initiate transportation services while improving air quality. CMAQ funds may be used to support alternative fuel and alternative fuel vehicle programs.

Conifer - Tree, usually evergreen, with cones and needle-shaped or scalelike leaves, producing wood known commercially as softwood.

Conservation - Efficiency of energy use, production, transmission, or distribution that results in a decrease of energy consumption while providing the same level of service.

Continuous Fermentation - A steady state fermentation system that operates without interruption; each stage of fermentation occurs in a separate section of the fermenter, and flow rates are set to correspond with required residence times.

Continuous-Flow Process - A general term for any number of biodiesel production processes that involves the continuous addition of ingredients to produce biodiesel on a continual, round-the-clock basis, as opposed to the batch process.

Conversion Efficiency - A comparison of the useful energy output to the potential energy contained in the fuel. The efficiency calculation relates to the form of energy produced. A direct comparison of the efficiency of different conversion processes can be made only when the processes produce the same form of energy output.

Conventional biofuels - Conventional biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel are typically made from corn, sugarcane and beet, wheat or oilseed crops such as soy and rape.

Converted or Conversion Vehicle - A vehicle originally designed to operate on gasoline or diesel that has been modified or altered to run on an alternative fuel.

Cooker - A tank or vessel designed to cook a liquid or extract or digest solids in suspension; the cooker usually contains a source of heat; and is fitted with an agitator.

Cooking - The process that breaks down the starch granules in the grain. This process makes the starch available for the liquefaction and saccharification steps.

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) - Federal and private joint research and development program that is used to further technology commercialization.

Coppice Regeneration - The ability of certain hardwood species to regenerate by producing multiple new shoots from a stump left after harvest. Co-Products - The resulting substances and materials that accompany the production of ethanol by fermentation process. Depending on the type of ethanol facility, co-products can include livestock feed, corn sweeteners, corn oil, carbon dioxide and other value-added products. Cord: A stack of wood consisting of 128 cubic feet (3.62 cubic meters). A cord has standard dimensions of 4 x 4 x 8 feet, including air space and bark. One cord contains about 1.2 U.S. tons (oven-dry), i.e. 2400 pounds or 1089 kg.

Corn starch - Also known as cornflour, is the starch of the maize grain, commonly known as corn. It is also ground from the endosperm, or white heart, of the corn kernel.

Corn Stover - Residue materials from harvesting corn consisting of the cob, leaves and stalk.

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) - Law passed in 1975 that set federal fuel economy standards (P.L. 94-163). The CAFE values are an average of city and highway fuel economy test results weighted by a manufacturer for either its car or truck fleet. CAFE is also a program created to determine whether vehicle manufacturers are complying with the gas mileage, or fuel economy, standards set by the federal government. The CAFE values are obtained by combining the city and highway fuel economy test results and computing an average that is weighted by vehicle sales.

Corrosion Inhibitors - Additives used to inhibit corrosion (e.g., rust) in the fuel system.
Co-solvents - Heavier molecular weight alcohols used with methanol to improve water tolerance and reduce other negative characteristics of gasoline/alcohol blends. Tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) was used commercially as a co-solvent for methanol/gasoline blends during the 1980s.

CPVC - Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride is a commonly available thermoplastic pipe with improved heat resistance properties over PVC. It is available in pipe sizes from �" to 12" and in both schedule 40 and schedule 80. CPVC is rated at 400 psi at 73 F and 100psi at 180 F. Biodiesel melts CPVC.

Cropland - Total cropland includes five components; cropland harvested, crop failure, cultivated summer fallow, cropland used only for pasture, and idle cropland.

Cropland Used for Crops - Cropland used for crops includes cropland harvested, crop failure, and cultivated summer fallow. Cropland harvested includes row crops and closely sown crops; hay and silage crops; tree fruits, small fruits, berries, and tree nuts; vegetables and melons; and miscellaneous other minor crops. In recent years, farmers have double-cropped about 4 percent of this acreage. Crop failure consists mainly of the acreage on which crops failed because of weather, insects, and diseases, but includes some land not harvested due to lack of labor, low market prices, or other factors. The acreage planted to cover and soil improvement crops not intended for harvest is excluded from crop failure and is considered idle. Cultivated summer fallow refers to cropland in sub-humid regions of the West cultivated for one or more seasons to control weeds and accumulate moisture before small grains are planted. This practice is optional in some areas, but it is a requirement for crop production in the drier cropland areas of the West. Other types of fallow, such as cropland planted to soil improvement crops but not harvested and cropland left idle all year, are not included in cultivated summer fallow but are included as idle cropland.

Cropland Pasture -Land used for long-term crop rotation. However, some cropland pasture is marginal for crop uses and may remain in pasture indefinitely. This category also includes land that was used for pasture before crops reached maturity and some land used for pasture that could have been cropped without additional improvement.

Cross Flow Trays - Liquid flows across the tray and over a weir to a downcomer that carries it to the next lower tray. Vapors rise from the bottom of the column to the top passing through the tray openings and the pools of cross flowing liquid.

Cryogenic Storage - Extreme low-temperature storage.

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) - An advisory council to the President established by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The CEQ reviews federal programs for their effect on the environment, conducts environmental studies, and advises the President on environmental matters.

Cull Tree - A live tree, 5.0 inches in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) or larger that is non-merchantable for saw logs now or prospectively because of rot, roughness, or species. (See definitions for rotten and rough trees.)

B

B100 – B100 is another name for pure biodiesel.

B20 - A blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum-based diesel where 20% of the volume is biodiesel.

Background Level -The average amount of a substance present in the environment. Originally referring to naturally occurring phenomena. Used in toxic substance monitoring.

Backup Electricity - Power or services needed occasionally; for example, when on-site generation equipment fails.

Backup Rate - A utility charge for providing occadional electricity service to replace on-site generation.

Baffle Chamber -In incinerator design, a chamber designed to settle fly ash and coarse particulate matter by changing the direction and reducing the velocity of the combustion gases.

Bagasse - A sugarcane waste currently used for as a feedstock for producing ethanol.

Balance of Payments - The dollar amount difference between a country's exports and imports. In the United States, large oil imports are one of the main causes of the negative balance of payments with the rest of the world.

Bark - The outer protective layer of a tree outside the cambium comprising the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner bark is a layer of living bark that separates the outer bark from the cambium and in a living tree is generally soft and moist. the outer bark is a layer of dead bark that forms the exterior surface if the tree stem. The outer bark is frequently dry and corky.

Barrel of Oil Equivalent - A unit of energy equal to the amount of energy contained in a barrel of crude oil. Approximately 5.78 million Btu or 1,700 kWh. One barrel = 5.6 cubic feet or .159 cubic meters; for crude oil, one barrel is about .136 metric tons, .134 long tons, and .150 short tons. A barrel is a liquid measure equal to 42 gallons or about 306 pounds.

Base - A classification of substances which when combined with an acid will form a salt plus water, usually producing hydroxide ions when dissolved.

Baseload Capacity - The power output that generating equipment can continuously produce.

Baseload Demand - The minimum demand experienced by an electric utility, usually 30-40% of the utility's peak demand.

Batch Distillation - A process in which the liquid feed is placed in a single container and the entire volume in=s heated, in contrast to continuous distillation in which the liquid is fed continuously through the still.

Batch Fermentation - Fermentation conducted from start to finish in a single vessel.
Batch Process - Unit operation where one cycle of feedstock preparation, cooking, fermentation and distillation is completed before the next cycle is started.

BATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Under the U.S. Department of Treasury. Responsible for the issuance of permits, both experimental and commercial, for the production of alcohol.

Beer - A general term for all fermented malt beverages flavored with hops. A low level (6 to 12 percent) alcohol solution derived from the fermentation of mash by microorganisms.

Beer Still - The stripping section of a distillation column for concentrating ethanol.

Benzene - A toxic, six-carbon aromatic component of gasoline, A known carcinogen.

Bi-Fuel Vehicle - A vehicle with two separate fuel systems designed to run on either an alternative fuel, or gasoline or diesel, using only one fuel at a time. Bi-fuel vehicles are referred to as "dual-fuel" vehicles in the Clean Air Act Amendments and Energy Policy Act.

Biobased - Derived from biological materials.

Biobased Product: The term 'biobased product' as defined by Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA), means a product determined by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed), that is composed in whole or in significant part, of biological products or renewable domestic agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine materials) or forestry materials.

Bio-Naphtha - A term used in some eastern European nations for biodiesel.

Bioaccumulation - Also Bioconcentration. The accumulation of a chemical in tissues of an organism to levels greater than in the environment in which the organism lives.

Biobutanol – Biobutanol is an advantaged biofuel that offers a number of benefits over conventional biofuels. For example, biobutanol has energy content closer to that of petroleum so consumers face less of a compromise on fuel economy. It can easily be added to conventional petrol due to low vapor pressure and can be blended at higher concentrations than bioethanol for use in standard vehicle engines. DuPont and BP are working together on a major project to produce biobutanol

Biochemical Conversion - The use of enzymes and catalysts to change biological substances chemically to produce energy products. For example, the digestion of organic wastes or sewage by microorganisms to produce methane is a biochemical process.

Biochemical Conversion Process - The use of living organisms or their products to convert organic material to fuels, chemicals or other products.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand - BOD. A standard means of estimating the degree of water pollution, especially of water bodies that receive contamination from sewage and industrial waste. BOD is the mount of oxygen needed by bacteria and other microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water. The greater the BOD, the greater the degree of pollution. Biochemical oxygen demand is a process that occurs over a period of time and is commonly measured for a five-day period, referred to as BOD5.

Bioconcentration- Also Bioaccumulation. The accumulation of a chemical in tissues of an organism to levels greater than in the environment in which the organism lives.

Biodegradable - Capable of decomposing rapidly under natural conditions.

Biodegradable Plastics - Are plastics that will decompose in the natural environment.

Biodiesel – Biodiesel is a clean burning, renewable diesel fuel that can be refined from algae, vegetable oils (including soy beans, sunflowers, peanuts, rapeseed, palm oil, jatropha etc.), fish oils, animal tallow, and used restaurant oils and grease. Pure biodiesel contains no petroleum, but can be blended freely with petroleum-based diesel. Blends of up to 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) can generally be used in unmodified compression ignition (diesel) engines. Biodiesel can also be used in its pure form (referred to as B100), but often minor engine modifications are necessary to avoid maintenance or performance problems. Biodiesel is simple to use, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. For biodiesel the use of algal feedstocks is an area of intense study because the theoretical energy yields are much greater than for other feedstocks . There are additional environmental advantages to algae, including CO2 consumption and the potential for the usage of wastewater in its cultivation.

Biodiesel Blend - Blends of biodiesel and diesel fuels. The blend can be with Diesel #1, Diesel #2, or JP8. One standard blend that meets the minimum requirements of the federal EPA Clean Air Act criteria is B20. The number after "B" indicates the percentage of biodiesel included in the blend. In B20, there would be 20%.

Biodiesel Recipe - The most common recipe uses waste vegetable oil (WVO), methanol (wood alcohol), and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda/lye) to produce biodiesel and glycerin. The most common steps are: (1) cleaning/heating WVO, (2) titration of WVO sample, (3) combining methanol and sodium hydroxide in exact amounts, (4) combining (3) with (1) and mixing at 50c, (5) settling (6) separating the biodiesel from the wastes, (7) washing and drying the biodiesel, (8) disposing of wastes.

Bioenergy: Useful, renewable energy produced from organic matter - the conversion of the complex carbohydrates in organic matter to energy. this fuel is burned or converted in systems that produce heat, electricity, or both heat and power.Organic matter may either be used directly as a fuel, processed into liquids and gasses, or be a residual of processing and conversion.

Bioethanol - Also known as ethanol, is an alcohol biofuel with the chemical formula CH3CH20H that is traditionally produced by the yeast fermentation and distilation of starch or sugar crops such as corn, sugar beet or sugar cane. Ethanol can also be produced from other feedstocks such as agricultural residues and biomass crops such as switchgrass. This is known as second generation or cellulosic ethanol. Ethanol can be blended with petroleum for use in vehicles. Grain alcohol.

Biofuel – The term biofuel applies to any solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel produced from organic (once-living) matter. The word biofuel covers a wide range of products, some of which are commercially available today, and some of which are still in research and development. First-generation biofuel is derived from the fruit of the plant and has a comparatively low potential to reduce CO2 and a low yield per unit area. Its cultivation does compete with food production.Second-generation biofuel Is preferably produced from the entire plant or from residue and waste materials and has a high potential to reduce CO2 and a high yield per unit area. It is not in competition with food production.

Biogas - A combustible gas derived from decomposing biological waste. Biogas normally consists of 50 to 60% methane.

Bioheat - A name sometimes applied to biodiesel when its application is for heating purposes.

Biological Assessment - A specific process required as part of an environmental assessment. An evaluation of potential effects of a proposed project on endangered, threatened and sensitive animal and plant species and their habitats.

Biological Oxidation -Decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms.

Biomass: Any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood residues, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, animal residues, municipal residues, and other residue materials. Biomass is generally produced in a sustainable manner from water and carbon dioxide by photosynthesis. There are three main categories of biomass - primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Biomass Fuel -Liquid, solid or gaseous fuel produced by conversion of biomass.

Biomass Processing Residues - Byproducts from processing all forms of biomass that have significant energy potential. For example, making solid wood products and pulp from logs produces bark, shavings and sawdust, and spent pulping liquors. Because these residues are already collected at the point if processing, they can be convenient and relatively inexpensive sources of biomass for energy.

Biopolymers - Are produced from biomass for use in the packaging industry. Biomass crops used to produce biopolymers are classified as non-food stocks. Also known as renewable polymers.

Bioreactor – A bioreactor is a vessel in which a chemical process occurs. This usually involves organisms or biochemically active substances derived from such organisms

Biopower: The use of biomass feedstock to produce electric power or heat through direct combustion of the feedstock, through gasification and then combustion of the resultant gas, or through other thermal conversion processes. Power is generated with engines, turbines, fuel cells, or other equipment.

Biorefinery - According to the 2008 Farm Act, the term means a facility that processes and converts renewable biomass into biofuels and biobased products, and may produce electricity. Biorefineries can be based on a number of processing platforms using mechanical, thermal, chemical, and biochemical processes.

Biosphere - The portion of the Earth and its atmosphere that can support life.

Biotechnology - Technology that use living organisms to produce products such as medicines, to improve plants or animals, or to produce microorganisms for bioremediation.

Biotic - Pertaining to life or living organisms.

Black Liquor: Solution of lignin-residue and the pulping chemicals used to extract lignin during the manufacture of paper.

BOD -Biochemical Oxygen Demand. A standard means of estimating the degree of water pollution, especially of water bodies that receive contamination from sewage and industrial waste. BOD is the mount of oxygen needed by bacteria and other microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water. The greater the BOD, the greater the degree of pollution. Biochemical oxygen demand is a process that occurs over a period of time and is commonly measured for a five-day period, referred to as BOD5.

BOD5 -The amount of dissolved oxygen consumed in five days by biological processes breaking down organic matter.See also: Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Boiler - Any device used to burn biomass fuel to heat water for generating steam.

Boiler Horsepower - A measure of the maximum rate of energy output of a steam generator. One boiler horsepower equals 33,480 Btu/hr output in steam

Bone Dry: Having zero percent moisture content. Wood heated in an oven at a constant temperature of 100°C (212°F) or above until its weight stabilizes is considered bone dry or oven dry.

Bottoming Cycle: A cogeneration system in which steam is used first for process heat and then for electric power production.

Brewing - Generically, the entire beer-making process, but technically only the pat of the process during which the beer wort is cooked in a brew kettle and during which time the hops are added. After brewing, the beer is fermented.

British Thermal Unit - BTU. A quantitative measure of heat equivalent to the amount of heat required to raise 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.

Brown Grease - Waste grease that is the least expensive of the various grades of wast grease.

BTL - Biomass-to-liquid, is a multi-step process which converts biomass into liqiud biofuels. BTL is also referred to as a second generation biodiesel production. There are many diferent methods of BTL, but many processes include Fischer- Tropsch, hydrogenation, or pyrolysis.

BTX -Industry term referring to the group of aromatic hydrocarbons—benzene, toluene and xylene (see aromatics).

Bubble Wash - A method of final washing of biodiesel through air agitation. Biodiesel floats above a quantity of water. Bubbles from an aquarium pump and air stone are injected into the water causing the bubbles to rise. At the water/biodiesel interface, the air bubbles carry water up through the biodiesel by surface tension. Simple diffusion causes water soluble impurities in the biodiesel to be extracted into the water. As the bubble reaches the surface and breaks, the water is freed and percolates back down through the biodiesel again.

Bubble-Cap Trays - Cross flow trays usually installed in rectifying columns handling liquids free of suspended solids. The bubble caps consist of circular cups inverted over small vapor pipes. The vapor from the tray below passes through the vapor pipes into the caps and curves downward to escape below the rim into the liquid. The rim of each cap is slotted or serrated to break up the escaping vapor into small bubbles, thereby increasing the surface area of the vapor as it passes through the liquid.

Bulk Density - Weight per unit of volume, usually specified in pounds per cubic foot.

Bureay of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms- BATF. under the U.S. Department of Treasury. Responsible for the issuance of permits, both experimental and commercial, for the production of alcohol.

Butane - A gas derived from natural gas. used as a component of gasoline. Used in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic and industrial applications.

Butanol -An alcohol with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)3OH. It is formed during anaerobic fermentation using bacteria to convert the sugars to butanol and carbon dioxide.

Butyl Alcohol - An alcohol with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)3OH. It is formed during anaerobic fermentation using bacteria to convert the sugars to butanol and carbon dioxide.

By-product – A by-product is a substance, other than the principal product, generated as a consequence of creating a biofuel. For example, a by-product of biodiesel production is glycerin and a by-product of bioethanol production is DDGS.

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ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene - A common thermoplastic used in a wide variety of everyday products. Solvents will damage ABS. It has some resistance to most chemicals (except strong oxidizers) It has good strength and crack resistance.

Acetic Acid - An acid with the structure of C2H4O2. Acetyl groups are bound through an ester linkage to hemicellulose chains, especially xylan, in wood and other plants. The natural moisture present in plants hydrolyzes the acetyl groups to acetic acid, particularly at elevated temperatures.

Acetone - Chemical Formula: C3H6O - (also known as propanone, dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, propan-2-one and beta-ketopropane) A solvent used in the soap test. It is the active ingredient in fingernail polish remover. It is the simplest form of a ketone.

Acid - Any of a class of substances whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a sour taste, the ability to turn blue litmus red, and the ability to react with bases and certain metals to form salts. A substance that yields hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. A substance that can act as a proton donor.

Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) - Organic matter that is not solubilized after 1 hour of refluxing in an acid detergent of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in 1N sulfuric acid. ADF includes cellulose and lignin. This analytical method is commonly used in the feed and fiber industries.
Acid Esterification - A common approach for removing free fatty acids from the feedstock is via acid catalyzed esterfication in the presence of methanol. This converts the free fatty acids to methyl esters (e.g., biodiesel). Acid esterfication equipment requires the use of stainless steel equipment due to the corrosive nature of the process.

Acid Hydrolysis - A chemical process in which acid is used to convert carbohydrate or starch to monomer sugars.

Acid Insoluble Lignin - Lignin is mostly insoluble in mineral acids, and therefore can be analyzed gravimetrically after hydrolyzing the cellulose and hemicellulose fractions of the biomass with sulfuric acid. ASTM E-1721-95 describes the standard method for determining acid insoluble lignin in biomass.

Acid Number - In biodiesel it is the results of ASTM D 664. It is a titration test on finished biodiesel that is a direct measure of free fatty acids. Over time, as biodiesel degrades, the Acid number will increase.

Acid Soluble Lignin - A small fraction of the lignin in a biomass sample is solubilized during the hydrolysis process of the acid insoluble lignin method. This lignin fraction is referred to as acid soluble lignin and may be quantified my ultraviolet spectroscopy.

Advanced Biofuels - These are biofuels manufactured from more sustainable feedstocks using advanced processing technology resulting in more efficient utilisation of the feedstock and lower CO2 emissions. One of the key benefits of advanced biofuels is that they will be manufactured from, for example, non-food crops such as lignocellulosic biomass. The use of lignocellulose opens the way for biofuels to be manufactured from a much wider range of feedstocks in future, therefore increasing the overall supply potential for biofuels worldwide.

Advantaged molecule biofuels - These are the next generation biofuel products such as bio-butanol. Versus first generation biofuels, advantaged products offer better fuel characteristics with less need for vehicle modifications for use.

Additives - Chemicals added to fuel in very small quantities to improve and maintain fuel quality. Detergents and corrosion inhibitors are examples of gasoline additives.
Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) - A vehicle that combines new engine/power/drivetrain systems to significantly improve fuel economy. This includes hybrid power systems and fuel cells, as well as some specialized electric vehicles.

Aerosol - A dispersion of a liquid or solid in a gas.

Aftermarket - Broad term that applies to any change after the original purchase, such as adding equipment. When applied to AFVs, it refers to conversion devices or kits for conventional fuel vehicles.

AGE 85 - Aviation Grade Ethanol used in piston engine aircraft. This fuel contains 85% Ethanol along with light hydrocarbons and biodiesel fuel.

Agitator - A device such as a stirrer that provides complete mixing and uniform dispersion of all components in a mixture. Agitators are generally used continuously during the cooking process and intermittently during fermentation.

Agricultural Residue - Agricultural crop residues are the plant parts, primarily stalks and leaves, not removed from the fields with the primary food or fiber product. Examples include corn stover, stalks, leaves, husks, and cobs); wheat straw; and rice straw.

Agro-Energy - Energy derived from purposely-grown crops, and from agricultural and livestock by-products, residues and wastes.

Air Quality Management District (AQMD) - A term used principally in California to describe administrative districts organized to control air pollution. Nationwide, AQMDs are parallel to the areas designated for classification against the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Generally, AQMDs and their national parallel encompass multiple jurisdictions and closely follow the definition of Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

Air Quality Maintenance Area - Specific populates area where air quality is a problem for one or more pollutants.

Air Toxics - Toxic air pollutants defined under Title II of the CAA, including benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, 1-3 butadiene, and polycyclic organic matter (POM). Benzene is a constituent of motor vehicle exhaust, evaporative, and fueling emissions. The other compounds are exhaust pollutants.

Alcohol - A general class of hydrocarbons that contain a hydroxyl group (OH). The term "alcohol" is often used interchangeably with the term "ethanol," even though there are many types of alcohol. (See Butanol, Ethanol, Methanol.)

Aldehydes - A class of organic compounds derived by removing the hydrogen atoms from an alcohol. Aldehydes can be produced from the oxidation of an alcohol.

Aldoses - Occur when the carbonyl group of a monosaccharide is an aldehyde.

Algae - Primitive plants, usually aquatic, capable of synthesizing their own food by photosynthesis. Algae is currently being investigated as a possible feedstock for production in biodiesel, jet fuel, and other bioproducts.

Algaculture - A term used to describe the farming of algae using aquaculture. Certain algae species contain large quantities of lipids (fatty oils) that may potentially be used as a viable and easily sustainable feedstock for the production of biodiesel. Many species of algae replicate quickly and form dense colonies which theoretically can yield more energy per acre than any other feasible crop feedstock. The algae can also be used to clean wastewater and feed livestock, maximizing the environmental benefit. Algae farming has been studied intensively in the last 30 years, but production cost, species sustainability, and large-scale production remain as barriers to its current use in commercial manufacture.

Aliphatic - Any non-aromatic organic compound having an open chain structure.

Alkali - A soluble mineral salt with pH greater than 7.0 in aqueous solution such as NaOH, KOH.

Alkali Lignin - Lignin obtained by acidification of an alkaline extract of wood.

Alkali Solution - In biodiesel production, an Alkali solution is used as the reagent in titration. It is made by mixing catalyst either, KOH or NaOH, with water in prescribed ratios.

Alkylation - A refining process for converting light, gaseous olefins into high-octane gasoline components.

Alloy - Any large number of substances having metallic properties and consisting of two or more elements; with few exceptions, the components are usually metallic elements.

Alternative Fuel - As defined in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT): methanol, denatured ethanol and other alcohols, separately or in blends of at least 10% by volume with gasoline or other fuels; compressed natural gas; liquefied natural gas, liquefied propane gas, hydrogen, coal derived liquid fuels, fuels other than alcohols derived from biological materials, electricity, biodiesel, and any other fuel deemed to be substantially not petroleum and yielding potential energy security benefits and substantial environmental benefits.

Alternative Fuel Provider - A fuel provider (or any affiliate or business unit under its control) is an alternative fuel provider if its principal business is producing, storing, refining, processing, transporting, distributing, importing, or selling (at wholesale or retail) any alternative fuel (other than electricity); or generating, transmitting, importing, or selling (at wholesale and retail) electricity; or if that fuel provider produces, imports, or produces and imports (in combination), an average of 50,000 barrels per day of petroleum and 30% (a substantial portion) or more of its gross annual revenues are derived from producing alternative fuels.

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) - As defined by the Energy Policy Act, any dedicated, flexible-fuel, or dual-fuel vehicle designed to operate on at least one alternative fuel.

Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) - A program sponsored by DOE and managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to collect data and information on all types of Alternative Fuels and AFVs across the country.

Alternative Fuels Utilization Program (AFUP) - A program managed by DOE with the goals of improving national energy security by displacing imported oil, improving air quality by development and widespread use of alternative fuels for transportation, and increasing the production of AFVs.

Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988 (AMFA) - Public Law 100-494. Encourages the development, production and demonstration of alternative motor fuels and AFVs. Ambient Air Quality - The condition of the air in the surrounding environment.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)- A nonprofit organization that provides a management system to develop published technical information. ASTM standards, test methods, specifications, and procedures are recognized as definitive guidelines for motor fuel quality as well as a broad range of other products and procedures.

Anaerobic - Life or biological processes that occur in the absence of oxygen.

Anaerobic Digestion - A biochemical process by which organic matter is decomposed by micro-organisms such as bacteria in the absence of oxygen, producing a gas comprising mostly methane and carbon dioxide.

Anhydrous - Describes a compound that does not contain any water. Ethanol produced for fuel use is often referred to as anhydrous ethanol, as it has had almost all water removed.

Annual Removals - The net volume of growing stock trees removed from the inventory during a specified year by harvesting, cultural operations such as timber stand improvement, or land clearing.

Aquatic Plants - The wide variety of aquatic biomass resources, such a algae, giant kelp, other seaweed, and water hyacinth. Certain microalgae can produce hydrogen and oxygen while others manufacture hydrocarbons and a host of other products. Microalgae examples include Chlorella, Dunaliella, and Euglena.

Arabinan - The polymer of arabinose with a repeating unit of C5H804. Can be hydrolyzed to arabinose.

Arabinose - A five-carbon sugar C5H1005. A product of hydrolysis of arabinan found in the hemicellulose fraction of biomass.

Aromatics - Hydrocarbons based on the ringed six-carbon benzene series or related organic groups. Benzene, toluene and xylene are the principal aromatics, commonly referred to as the BTX group. They represent one of the heaviest fractions in gasoline. Aromatics have strong, characteristic odors.

Asexual Reproduction - the naturally occurring ability of some plant species to reproduce asexually through seeds, meaning the embryos develop without a male gamete. This ensures the seeds will produce plants identical to the mother plant.

ASTM specifications - Standards created for commercial fuels. ASTM's "Standard Specifications for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) Blending Stock for Distillation Fuels," D6751-02, includes results and measurable fuel qualities as well as testing methods.

Atmospheric Pressure - Pressure of the air and atmosphere surrounding us which changed from day to day. It is equal to 14.7 psia.

Attainment Area - A geographic region where the concentration of a specific air pollutant does not exceed federal standards.

Auger - A rotating, screw-type service that moves material through a cylinder.

Autoignition Temperature - The temperature at which a substance will ignite and burn without a spark or other ignition source.

Available Production Capacity - The biodiesel production capacity of refining facilities that are not specifically designed to produce biodiesel.

Average Megawatt - (MWa or aMW) One megawatt of capacity produced continuously over a period of one year. 1aMW = 1MW x 8760 hours/year = 8,760 MWh = 8,760,000 kWh.

Azeotrope - a mixture of two or more liquids that can to be separated by distillation. Ethanol and water are azeotropic at ethanol to water ratios above 95%. You can not distill the last 5% of the water out of ethanol.