Biodiesel plant works on recipe for success

By Nate Legue

BusinessRockford.com

The owners of a plant that promises to turn waste cooking oil into an alternative fuel are working to start production in a month.

BioVantage Fuels LLC completed its multimillion dollar facility on May 1. Since then, Chris Kelson, chief executive officer, and Brian Coker, chief operations officer, have been tweaking the chemical process that makes the biodiesel fuel inside the 10,000-square-foot plant.

The partners produced their first batch but are undergoing batteries of tests to determine how well their biodiesel meets industry standards.

“We definitely want to be up and running as soon as possible,” Coker said. “With any startup, you run into delays you weren’t expecting, so we’re a little behind schedule. But we’re on track to get started soon.”

At their groundbreaking in September 2007, the partners had hoped to be producing by spring. And once it’s fully operational, BioVantage will be able to pump out 5 million gallons a year, which Coker expects will be used in agricultural equipment and semitrailers. It also will employ up to 15 workers, he said.

Although the company buys its raw materials — used vegetable oil from fryers — from restaurant suppliers, biodiesel can also be made from virgin soybean oil. The process works by breaking fatty acid chains from glycerin molecules and then reattaching them to methanol, thus creating a new combustible chemical that can be used in diesel engines.

“We’re getting a lot of people calling, saying when are we going to be up and running?” Coker said.

Biodiesel sources in the Rock River Valley

Petro No. 59, Rochelle Travel Plaza
900 Petro Drive, Rochelle

I-39 Shell Express Lane
4740 Baxter Road, Rockford

Glendenning Fertilizer
12401 Illinois 72, Davis Junction

Kirkland Marathon
411 West Main St., Kirkland

Lanark FS Fuel 24
505 W. Illinois 64, Lanark

Lena Fuel 24
519 ½ E. Lena St., Lena

Source: National Biodiesel Board

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