Harry G. Gibson

Evaluation of Soybean Heating Oil Blends for Use in Residential Applications

Soybean heating oil (SHO) has great potential to become a renewable component in residential heating applications. Research at Purdue University has demonstrated SHO20, 20% degummed soybean oil and 80% petroleum fuel, to be comparable to #2 petroleum fuel oil. The kinematic viscosity of SHO20, 3.46 cSt at 100°F (37.8°C), was within the ASTM requirement for petroleum fuel oil. The net heating value of SHO20 was only 1-3% lower than pure petroleum fuel oil on a volume basis. Laboratory combustion tests showed all blends tested produced less then 15 ppm SO2. Nitric oxide emissions at optimal furnace settings were similar for fuel oil and SHO20 with values between 68 ppm and 130 ppm. Benefits of SHO include reduced dependence on foreign oil and a new market for the soybean processing industry. Replacing just one quarter of the northeastern United States residential fuel oil consumption with a 20% soybean heating oil blend would utilize nearly 5.7 million acres of soybeans. This mixture also reduces the amount of carbon introduced into the carbon cycle.

Right-Of-Way Woody Brush Control with Herbicide Roller Application

ABSTRACT Aherbicide roller-wiper was used to control woody brush on test plots and utility rights-of-way in Indiana. Field tests indicated the importance of controlling roller speed, carpet type, and spreader pressure in order to achieve maximum control with minimal herbicide waste. Brush control ranged from 85 to 95% kill using glyphosate and triclopyr. The roller-wiper applicator would be adaptable to forest plantation and utility right-of-way brush control where drift control, environmental safety, and crop selectivity are important.