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Factory To Make Biodiesel From Chicken Fat

Posted by samzenpus on from the extra-crispy-miles dept.

telekon writes "Tyson foods has finally found a use for chicken fat and leftover food grease that isn't McNuggets — they've partnered with Syntroleum to produce biodiesel from the stuff. Their first plant in Louisiana will be able to churn out 75 million gallons a year. The question is, will the exhaust smell like fried chicken?"

13 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. That's disgusting by Hemi+Rodner · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I know that the exhaust of falafel oil does smell like falafel. So it means that the exhaust of this "biodiesel" will probably smell like fried chicken.

    As a vegetarian, it really disgusts me... (I wonder, though, if this smell is better than regular diesel).

    PS: I am disappointed that the article is so short.

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    hemi
    1. Re:That's disgusting by Belial6 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If you truly believe that the meat industry is "just for our pleasure and convenience", you honestly have a mental illness. I don't say that with hyperbole. You are in the same category as people who hear voices.

    2. Re:That's disgusting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      As a vegetarian, it really disgusts me... (I wonder, though, if this smell is better than regular diesel).

      As a human, this really disgusts me.

      But seriously, would you rather see these things go to waste?
      I mean, let's be serious, you'll never prevent people from eating meat, until artificial meat becomes mainstream and tastes at least >80% of what regular meat tastes like. (i personally love quorn, but it still isn't a good alternative for those who love the taste of meats)
      So all that food waste would just end up in a food tip somewhere.

      I'm also all for separate food waste collection so it can be re-used for feeding crops, instead of ending up in the same usual landfills as most rubbish does. (i'd love for everything to be recycled, but sadly that isn't being realistic)
      Such a large amount of food ends up not even being used... really good food as well. Worse yet when meat actually goes to waste since it took so much effort to grow the animal, so much energy, then to have it killed uselessly to end up in a landfill...

    3. Re:That's disgusting by Toe,+The · · Score: 1, Interesting

      In every instance, no. But in places like the U.S., where grocery stores are abundant, then yes, meat is almost exclusively for pleasure and convenience.

      In case you hadn't noticed, doctors and nutritionists generally recommend a plant-based diet. So what is necessary about meat consumption?

      It tastes good (pleasure) and it's an easy way to get a nice packet of nutrients (convenience).

    4. Re:That's disgusting by pressman · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I would love to see a citation of the program currently in place that pays people to not grow grain. The Farm Subsidies Act of 1973 pretty much eliminated the act of paying farmers to underproduce or not produce crops. Subsidies since then have favored over-production, particularly beneficial to very large companies and very damaging to small, family farms.

      --
      Pooty tweet
  2. What was the previous use? by vlm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What was the previous use?
    My guess is they mixed it in with the chicken feed to fatten up the next batch. They'll need a new source of oil. Maybe corn oil?

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  3. Neve ending cycle. by Andy_w715 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Eat the crap; Makes you fat. Need a bigger car to lug your fat ass around. Burn it in your car; Exhaust smells like it, making you hungry. Repeat. Also 75 milllion gallons sounds like a lot, but when compared to the annual gasoline consumption of the US (~140 billion gallons), you'll need to eat a lot of chickens to make a dent. Sound like some gov't make work program.

  4. They tried that nearby for a few years by Nimey · · Score: 2, Interesting

    There was a plant owned by Renewable Environmental Solutions near Carthage, MO that would take leftovers from Tyson's chicken plants and turn it into various oils, including fuel. Problem was that the plant *stank* and the wind sometimes blew the odor into town, leading to many complaints and attempts to fix it.

    Eventually the state shut 'em down because they were unable to control the smell. Maybe this place in Louisiana is way out in the middle of nowhere, so they won't have to worry so much about the neighbors complaining.

    --
    Hail Eris, full of mischief...

    E pluribus sanguinem
    1. Re:They tried that nearby for a few years by jmichaelg · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The problem wasn't the stink. It was the economics. From the get go, they were relying on subsidies to make the process pay. These kind of businesses sprout up whenever there are government subsidies to be had or fuel prices spike. Their prospectuses will have a phrase that states that the company isn't profitable if you take away the subsidies or it will be profitable if the price of fuel rises faster than the rate of inflation. Had Renewable really developed a viable technology that delivered fuel at $15/barrel as they promised, there would have been more than enough money to clean up the stench.

  5. Environment friendly, but not human-friendly by fluor2 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    We already know Men living in areas with polluted air may be more likely to develop lung cancer, according to scientists. .

    So we thought this biofuel should be great. But now recent studies have found some evidence that indicates that biofuel is even worse for humans! Norwegian researchers have found this (published in a large norwegian magazine named technichal weekly).
    Read this article. The findings are new, but disturbing for the future of biofuel.

    But hey, after all it's environment friendly. :)

  6. Old news by Firethorn · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As a vegetarian, it really disgusts me... (I wonder, though, if this smell is better than regular diesel).

    As an omnivore who's also a hunter, I'm glad that they're finding a green use for what would otherwise be a waste product.

    This is a kind-of 'old tech' come back in a new form. Animal fat used to be used to produce candles and lantern oil; so the idea of using it for power isn't a new one.

    BTW, this is old news; I first heard about this factory several years ago.

    MUCH better article
    - Hmm... Looks like a new plant, and it'll also produce fuel for the B-52. Sweet.

    Ah, here's what I was remembering - light crude from turkey fats and other waste via thermal-depolymerization .Article dates from 2003.

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    I don't read AC A human right
  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2, Interesting

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  8. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2, Interesting

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