Load up on cans of Canola oil next time you're at the grocery store, because scientists have found something else that vegetable oil can do besides clog arteries.
About 30 people gathered at Gentle Strength Cooperative, at 234 W. University Dr., last Tuesday to learn how to mix used vegetable oil from restaurants with other chemicals to make biodiesel to pour into their cars.
Blair Phillips, founder of Common Vision, a non-profit organization based in California, has been driving a1961 Crown bus that runs on biodiesel for the past seven months.
"Biodiesel is vegetable oil that has been stabilized through the process of transesterification, which is the process of neutralizing the pH so it can be used as fuel," Phillips said. "It can be used in place of petroleum biodiesel in any diesel engine."
Mesa resident Jim Millyard attended the workshop and said that he plans to use biodiesel in his truck to commute to work.
"I plan to use biodiesel if the process is easy enough, and it can be done economically," Millyard said. "I've heard about it before. I think it is a great idea. It is recycling used vegetable cooking oil for transportation; (it) cuts down on sulfur in the atmosphere."
Phillips said biodiesel is just about as effective as regular diesel.
"Biodiesel delivers the same torque, horsepower and miles per gallon as traditional petroleum-based diesel," Phillips said. "The only issue issue with biodiesel is not mixing enough methanol, because methanol is the igniter and if you do not use enough, it has a problem starting."
Greg Peterson, a bachelor of interdisciplinary studies senior, who also runs a farm in central Phoenix, said he wants to learn how to make biodiesel.
"I am interested in using it, but it is just a matter of accessing that much vegetable oil," Peterson said.
But Phillips said vegetable oil is much easier to obtain in the long run than petroleum.
"Biodiesel is different than fossil fuels, because fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource, and biodiesel can be made with restaurant grease, which would otherwise pollute the earth," Phillips said.
Nancy Ryan, marketing director of Gentle Strength Cooperative, said she thinks using vegetable oil as a form of diesel is great.
"I am glad we have the public interest - that is the only way we will make a dent in anything and move forward," Ryan said. "I don't think technology is as forward-moving as something like this."
Phillips said the bus' next stop is Aspen, Colo.
"The beauty of this movement is that we are turning a waste product used in vegetable oil into a golden resource which is biodiesel fuel," Phillips said. "Three co-ops have started in California as a result of Common Visions' influence and use of biodiesel."
Reach the reporter at erin.hawksworth@asu.edu.
