Progress 07/01/02 to 06/30/03
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Established in 1991, the UNI-ABIL Research Program is a non-profit entity specializing in the research and development of innovative, industrial soy technologies. Recognized nationally as a leading technical service organization with a reputation proving we are able to provide unique expertise toward biobased industrial lubricants. Since it's inception ABIL has built a biobased testing program to include Performance testing, Analytical testing, Tribology testing, and Biodegradability studies. Over 11 years of applied R&D has proven that soy-based formulations are feasible, offer specific performance advantages, unique energy efficiency opportunities, and improved environmental and health and safety advantages. In addition, improved formulations technology has resulted in several products that are price competitive with their petroleum counterparts. ABIL's commitment to discovering innovative soy technologies (non-food sector) has resulted in the development of 25 industrial soy products, four base oils and a viscosity modifier each licensed to market (note product listing below) - to include the exploration of value-added manufacturing processes. ABIL is focused toward assimilating a growing portfolio of biobased products into the marketplace - in essence creating a market for biobased industrial products. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Lou A. T. Honary is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Northern Iowa, and the founding Director of the National Ag-Based Lubricants (NABL) Center. He has authored numerous technical publications, including a chapter on vegetable oil-based lubricants in a popular engineering handbook. Dr. Honary has cultivated strong relationships with bi-partisan political leaders at the local, state, and federal levels; his advocacy has facilitated the development of five significant pieces of legislation in the State of Iowa, which continue to encourage the use of biobased lubricants. Dr. Honary has served a leadership role in many state and local organizations. He has previously served on Governor Vilsack's Advisory Committee and as a member of Hawkeye Community College's Foundation Board, Rotary International, and in various committee membership roles with trade organizations, including Society of Tribologists and Lubrications Engineers (STLE). In 2000, Dr. Honary and the University of Northern Iowa Research Foundation jointly formed a private entity to commercialize the technologies developed by the NABL Center. The result was the creation of the first biobased lubricants company in the nation, Environmental Lubricants Manufacturing, Inc. (ELM), of Plainfield, IA. Considered one of the most knowledgeable researchers in the nation for his field, Dr. Honary is a sought-after presenter in the area of Ag-based lubricants, and one of the most recognized experts in his field. TARGET AUDIENCES: The corporate infrastructure for delivering large-volume commodity crops to market is currently undergoing extensive organizational change. Facilities, practices, and logistical and transportation mechanisms are being modified for a higher degree of "synchronization" between both the input and output sides of farm production. Specialty seeds, designed for predetermined end-use applications are beginning to emerge; facilities to isolate and process them near their origin points are showing signs of becoming smaller and more integrated among broader end-use applications. Provided there is a means to do so, opportunity to institute a cost effective manufacturing platform tailored to the specific production requirements of a growing base of specialty oils is likely within this transition. UNI-ABIL comprehensively pursues broad-spectrum issues that facilitate the transition toward crop-based lubricants. To date, UNI-ABIL has developed, demonstrated, and commercialized vegetable-based lubricants targeted to meet existing performance specifications; has expanded political and consumer awareness that vegetable oils are viable alternatives; has supported legislative action to position vegetable oils more attractively; and has centralized dialogue between vegetable oil producers and lubricant distributors. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
SOY OIL PRODUCTS: Soy industrial fluids include industrial hydraulic fluids, tractor hydraulic oils, food grade hydraulic fluids, gear lubricants, dielectric transformer fluids, super low-temperature hydraulic oils, metalworking fluids and a variety of specialty products. Note: several product categories include multiple formulations to address specific operating environments. Soy industrial greases include truck greases, rail greases, cotton picker spindle greases and food machinery lubricating greases. Note: several product categories include multiple formulations to address specific operating environments. The annual volume of lubricants produced in the US is 2.5 million gallons representing a potential, lucrative $20 billion annual market. Lubricants represent a much smaller market than fuels, but they are sold at higher profit margins than fuels. EXPLORING NEW TECHNOLOGIES: ABIL is engaged in the exploration of new production approaches that may potentially enhance biobased products and our bioeconomy. ABIL is working to demonstrate and implement on-the-farm, crop-based grease production. The primary objective of the project being to develop a replicable, low risk grease module tailored to take advantage of the inherent features of vegetable-based lubricants. The concept lends itself to working with genetic soy varieties, like High Oleic (HO) soy; beans with specific features serving niche markets creates products that are unique in their class with higher profit potentials. This approach allows farmer-processors more control and increased marketing opportunities. FIELD MODELS / IMPACT: A local job shop participating in the field testing of soy-based metalworking fluids has realized improved tool life, energy savings, waste reduction, time-savings per piece, labor savings and are using a product that is safer for human-handling and provides environmental benefits. Data shows that by switching one piece of equipment, the company has realized an approximate $4000 cost savings per 50-piece run (realized from each of the previously mention categories combined) - on one piece of equipment. For the company this cost recovery results in competitive bidding, internal job creation, increased productivity, as well as energy and environmental benefits. The company estimates that the slightly higher cost of this soy product is recovered in approximately one day. More than half of the companies participating in the field study are reporting similar data. CREATION OF A MARKET: As previously stated ABIL's specific challenge is to provide support for these products as they enter the market; in essence create a market for biobased industrial lubricants and greases. While improved formulations and process technology continues in some applications, i.e., metalworking fluids, wood preservation technologies and processing/manufacturing processes, the focus of this request will direct funding toward marketing and advocacy initiatives to assist with the on-going establishment of a biobased lubricants infrastructure.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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