Reusing resources: New machines at Southeast put old motor, cooking oil to work

Southeast Missouri State University is using old cooking and motor oil in unconventional ways to make the university more self-sustaining.

The facilities management at Southeast is experimenting with two ways to turn campus waste into energy. They recently purchased machines that convert old motor and cooking oil into usable products. A large heating system runs on old motor oil, while another machine converts cooking oil into usable diesel engine fuel.

Facilities management recently bought the $5,000 heater. Grounds manager Terry Major said it would otherwise cost $1,500 a year to dispose of the oil. He said the heater will pay for itself in a few years.

"All in all I think it's going to be a pretty good deal for us," he said.

Major said the system is becoming popular with mechanics because it uses readily available waste. The system will add supplemental heat to the maintenance garage, which also houses the campus bus fleet.

"It'll be perfect in the fall because we won't have to fire up the big heater," he said.

Jake Meyer, a sophomore in environmental science, is developing the titration process to convert cooking oil into fuel for campus lawn mowers. He will build the procedure manual for the converter by determining the amount of additives that will produce the greatest amount of fuel, Major said.

The process also includes filtering food particles out of about 120 gallons of cooking oil per month produced in the campus' two kitchens.

"There's a lot of nastiness in there," Meyer said.

He said 50 gallons of cooking oil produces 35 to 45 gallons of fuel. The process produces three layers: usable fuel, waste and glycerin, which also can be used as a degreaser, he said.

Major said they will test the new fuel on the older lawn mowers first to make sure it does not gel. It can be blended with diesel to make it more usable, if necessary. Major said both projects could be expanded to other areas throughout campus.

Facilities management has started collecting the old motor oil from its vehicles and will start using the heating system in the fall. Meyer said he will create the first batches of cooking oil fuel in the next couple of weeks.

Scott Meyer, director of facilities management, said the department has implemented other environmentally friendly systems in recent years. The university installed low-flow toilets and faucets, more efficient light fixtures and occupancy detectors that turn lights off and on automatically.

"Certainly we want to be responsible with tuition dollars and tax dollars," he said.

abusch@semissourian.com

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