Manure-derived synthetic crude oil

Manure-derived synthetic crude oil is a synthetic bio-oil chemically engineered (converted) from animal or human manure. Research into the production of manure-derived synthetic fuel began with pig manure in 1996 at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign by the research team led by professors Yuanhui Zhang and Lance Schideman.{{cite news|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/07/05/new_economic_development_chief_well-versed_in_trade |title=New economic development chief well-versed in trade |author=Don Dodson |work=The News-Gazette |date=2009-07-05 |accessdate=2009-08-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709075017/http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/07/05/new_economic_development_chief_well-versed_in_trade |archivedate=July 9, 2009}}{{cite news

|url= http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-2304-energy-hogs.html

|title= Energy hogs

|author = Nave, R. L.

|work= Illinois Times

|date=2007-08-22

|accessdate=2009-10-09}} They developed a method for converting raw pig manure into bio-oil through thermal depolymerization (thermochemical conversion). This process uses a thermochemical conversion reactor to apply heat and pressure for breaking down carbohydrate materials.{{cite news

|url= http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0701_040702_pigoil.html

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040703081803/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0701_040702_pigoil.html

|url-status= dead

|archive-date= July 3, 2004

|title= Pig Manure Converted to Crude Oil

|author = Stefan Lovgren

|publisher= National Geographic News

|date=2004-07-02

|accessdate=2009-08-28}}{{cite news

|url= http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_5074fc61-a50b-5356-8a24-bc593d295399.html

|title= When pigs fly? Researcher makes oil from manure

|author = Dave Orrick

|agency= Associated Press

|date=2006-04-28

|accessdate=2009-08-28}} As a result, bio-oil, methane and carbon dioxide are produced.{{cite news

|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/20/science/observatory-how-a-pig-s-waste-became-oil.html

|title= How a Pig's Waste Became Oil

|author = Felipe Galindo

|work= The New York Times

|date=2004-04-20

|accessdate=2009-08-28}}

With further research, large-scale chemical processing in a refinery-style environment could help process millions of gallons of "pig biocrude" per day. However, this technology is still in its infancy and could produce only {{convert|18|USoz}} of oil per {{convert|1|USgal}} of manure. In 2006, preparations for a construction of a pilot plant started.{{cite news

|url= http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-15008269_ITM

|title= Manure to oil: Illinois team lays groundwork for pilot plant

|work= Feedstuffs

|date=2006-04-03

|accessdate=2009-08-28}} It is developed by Snapshot Energy, a start-up firm.

According to the tests conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology pig manure biocrude produced by current technology contains 15% water, sulfur and char waste containing heavy metals, which should be removed to improve the quality of oil.{{cite news

|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3126087.cms

|title= Pig poo to help solve global energy crisis?

|work= The Times of India

|date=2008-06-13

|accessdate=2009-08-28}}{{cite news

|url= http://eponline.com/articles/2008/06/20/nist-pig-manure-crude-needs-much-refining.aspx

|title= NIST: Pig Manure Crude Needs Much Refining

|work= Environmental Protection Online

|publisher=1105 Media Inc.

|date=2008-06-20

|accessdate=2009-08-28}}