Maria Alovert
Encyclopedia
Maria "Girl Mark" Alovert is the inventor of the Appleseed biodiesel processor commonly found in small-scale biodiesel
operations. This batch processor is based on a water heater, and can convert 30-100 gallons of vegetable oil into biodiesel in a few hours, with an equipment cost of approximately US$200.
Alovert's zine, "Biodiesel Homebrew Guide", is in its tenth edition, and is widely accepted as the definitive how-to guide for homebrew biodiesel production. Through workshops and conferences across the United States, she has become a central figure in small scale (<50K gallon/year) biodiesel production technology, analytics, and implementation.
As a grassroots activist, Alovert has developed a following that is often at odds with "establishment" biodiesel interests. The grassroots is typified by small producer coops, small ideals-based businesses, and individuals who are making biodiesel for their personal use. Large commercial producers (greater than 5M gal/yr) are often established agricultural interests, such as Cargill
or Archer Daniels Midland
. Tensions between these two groups arise on subjects such as fuel quality, safety, and blending.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
operations. This batch processor is based on a water heater, and can convert 30-100 gallons of vegetable oil into biodiesel in a few hours, with an equipment cost of approximately US$200.
Alovert's zine, "Biodiesel Homebrew Guide", is in its tenth edition, and is widely accepted as the definitive how-to guide for homebrew biodiesel production. Through workshops and conferences across the United States, she has become a central figure in small scale (<50K gallon/year) biodiesel production technology, analytics, and implementation.
As a grassroots activist, Alovert has developed a following that is often at odds with "establishment" biodiesel interests. The grassroots is typified by small producer coops, small ideals-based businesses, and individuals who are making biodiesel for their personal use. Large commercial producers (greater than 5M gal/yr) are often established agricultural interests, such as Cargill
Cargill
Cargill, Incorporated is a privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2011, number 13 on the Fortune 500,...
or Archer Daniels Midland
Archer Daniels Midland
The Archer Daniels Midland Company is a conglomerate headquartered in Decatur, Illinois. ADM operates more than 270 plants worldwide, where cereal grains and oilseeds are processed into products used in food, beverage, nutraceutical, industrial and animal feed markets worldwide.ADM was named the...
. Tensions between these two groups arise on subjects such as fuel quality, safety, and blending.