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One chef’s trash is another chef’s treasure. For most people, fryer grease is the last thing they’d like to get on their hands after a long night slaving over a hot stove. But according to Chef Eric Baldridge of Mohegan Sun’s, “Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse,” recycled fryer oil is a reliable and effective form of bio-diesel that keeps his truck running smoother than ever before.
The 35-year-old, eco-friendly chef began his oily crusade only 2 years ago, but had heard of such practices previously in his home state of California.
“It was something I had known about and had seen. I had read an article probably 10 years ago about a group of guys who converted a Volkswagen to run purely on vegetable oil. That kind of got me sparked, but it wasn’t until a few years later that I took the idea in my own direction,” he explained. Being a chef granted him access to recyclable vegetable oil that might otherwise have been thrown away.
But as the old saying goes, “It ain’t easy being green.” Converting vegetable oil to bio-diesel is an arduous task for any self-proclaimed tree hugger. The first step is to either build your own processor for around $500, or purchase one, as Baldridge did, for around $3,000. Secondly, two chemicals are needed to complete the transformation: lye and methanol. Lye, a chemical used in agriculture and soap making, is readily available for purchase. Methanol, on the other hand, isn’t quite so easy to find. Baldridge remarks, “Finding methanol is the trickiest part of making bio-diesel.” He explained that post September 11th, purchasing methanol has become extremely difficult since it is a common component used in bomb making. “They’re very careful about who they sell methanol to, so my advice would be to develop a relationship with the supplier,” he noted.
In a process called, ‘transester-ification,’ Baldridge’s collected vegetable oil is successfully converted into a ready to use bio-diesel that is compatible with unmodified diesel engines. “Basically what you’re doing is taking the waste vegetable oil and introducing a catalyst to it. The catalysts are methanol and lye. At a certain temperature, the catalysts strip away all the diglycerides and triglycerides, and you’re left with a basic oil molecule. And when the oil molecule connects with methanol, the product is bio-diesel,” he stated knowingly, his voice greased with experience.
Now owning two processors, Baldridge can produce 80 gallons of bio-diesel in approximately 4 hours. Considering the costs of such a multifarious process, Baldridge is only now breaking even with his investments. However, the environmental benefits of his useful hobby will trump all costs. “I think this kind of work is very important since we need to reduce the carbon dioxide output of every American. If we can reduce the carbon footprint of each person, we can dramatically better the environment,” he said. And he’s correct in his belief, seeing that bio-diesel is biodegradable, non-toxic, and usually produces 60% less carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum-based diesel.
Baldridge’s heavy-duty truck now gets 24 miles to the gallon, a hefty difference from his previous 16 miles to the gallon on standard diesel. His success has even translated into his home life, where in the summers he uses bio-diesel to power his heating source.
In regards to the environment, Baldridge’s response is refreshingly optimistic. “Everyone says that one person can’t do it, but if one person becomes 10 million, then sure we can do it. This generation has a chance to do something that’s on scale with the civil rights movement or giving women the right to vote. I think we are poised and ready for action.”
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