Ricketts using biodiesel made from waste animal fat, vegetable oil
MURFREESBORO — Middle
Tennessee State University professor Cliff Ricketts has driven coast-to-coast
on fumes — in 2012 on only 2.15 gallons of petroleum; and in 2013, no gas at
all.
What’s next? It’s a question the alternative fuels
researcher is often asked.
The answer comes Nov. 6-13 during a 3,550-mile cross-country
expedition from Key West, Florida, to Seattle, Washington, with the route
taking him back through Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for a brief stop at his
research base at the MTSU campus before heading west on his latest adventure.
The 2014 quest involves Ricketts driving a 1981 Volkswagen
Rabbit pickup truck on pure biodiesel
from waste animal fat mainly from chickens and waste vegetable oil from MTSU
dining facilities. Call it Southern fried fuel — with a full tank carrying him
about 550 miles before needing to refuel.
“This has
viability for not only daily driving, but also big semi-trucks,” said Ricketts,
who admits there is a lot of emotion attached to petroleum prices. “Gas is one
dollar less now than when it reached its peak, and people are pretty content right
now.”
Knowing gas prices
will rise again, the 38-year veteran School of Agribusiness and Agriscience
faculty member knows pure biodiesel is a nontoxic, biodegradable, sulfur-free,
renewable fuel. Using biodiesel could make a major impact on U.S. petroleum
consumption.
“My goal and
passion is to keep the U.S. from using foreign oil,” he said.
So he’s taking the
five-speed diesel pickup on a
cross-country trek using no diesel and no gasoline. Ricketts chose this fuel
source after considering green algae, but was unable to obtain the amount
needed to make the trip.
Along with Florida
and Washington, this month’s mission will travel by interstate highways through
13 states. Others include Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri,
Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
Three MTSU
students and two Metro Nashville Public Schools teachers will be part of the
travel party driving from Murfreesboro to Key West, where the coast-to-coast
expedition will begin.
The students
include junior Abby Barlow of McMinnville, Tennessee, sophomore Lindsey
Rutherford of White Pine, Tennessee, and senior Fleschia Johnson of Smyrna,
Tennessee. Barlow will be making the Key West to Murfreesboro portion of the
trip. Rutherford and Johnson plan to travel with the group from Key West to
Seattle.
The trip leader said the three young women will witness “the
diversity of agriculture” on the trip. He anticipates they will keep notebooks
to not only document the research but also view the agricultural variety —
soybeans, cotton, horses, aquatic, landscaping and more — along the route.
“Agriculture goes far beyond cows, sows and plows,” he said.
“Agriculture is so diverse.”
MTSU alumna Lucy “Max” Prestwood, who teaches agriculture at
Glencliff High School in Nashville, will go.
Most of the trip
will be fueled by pure biodiesel from waste animal (chicken) fat given by Brentwood,
Tennessee-based Delek US, plus biodiesel made at MTSU and utilized in equipment
at the Tennessee Livestock Center and MTSU farm in Lascassas, Tennessee.
Ricketts’ Delek fuel came from its processing plant in Crossett, Arkansas.
The Delek Crossett
facility uses a process called transesterification, converting fats so the
glycerin in the oil is removed and the fatty acids are combined with alcohol to
create a combustible fuel.
Using no gasoline
in March 2013, Ricketts and co-driver Terry Young, an MTSU alumnus from
Woodbury, Tennessee, drove a 1994 Toyota Tercel and a 2005 Toyota Prius from
Tybee Island, Georgia, to Long Beach, California, on solar power and hydrogen
from water harnessed at MTSU.
They made a
similar trip in March 2012, needing only 2.15 gallons of gas.
MTSU professor’s next
coast-to-coast quest at a glance
Who: Cliff Ricketts, Middle Tennessee State University School of
Agribusiness and Agriscience professor
What: 3,550-mile cross-country drive from Key West, Florida, to Seattle,
Washington, using pure biodiesel from waste animal fat and waste vegetable oil
When: Thursday, Nov. 6, through Thursday, Nov. 13
Where: States he will drive through include Florida, Georgia, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana,
Idaho and Washington
Why: “Agriculture goes far beyond cows, sows and plows,” Ricketts said.
“Agriculture is so diverse. I’m doing this to show it is viable, to show it can
be used, that there is another alternative fuel out there.”
Misc.: Ricketts’ vehicle this year is a
1981 five-speed diesel Volkswagen Rabbit pickup truck. He
anticipates it will travel approximately 550 miles on a full tank of pure
biodiesel from waste animal fat in a process called transesterification. He
plans to drive across parts of several states on waste vegetable oil from MTSU
dining facilities.
MTSU sophomore Lindsey Rutherford of White Pine, Tennessee,
and senior Fleschia Johnson of Smyrna, Tennessee, will travel the entire route.
Junior Abby Barlow of McMinnville, Tennessee will travel the Key West to
Murfreesboro leg of the trip. MTSU alumna Lucy “Max” Prestwood, who teaches at Glencliff
High School in Nashville, will make the round trip from Murfreesboro to Key
West.
About Cliff Ricketts
Research: Cliff Ricketts has run engines off ethanol from corn, methane, cow
manure, soybean oil and hydrogen from water. … He and his students held the
world land speed record for a hydrogen-fueled vehicle. … Heavily involved in
the National FFA Organization at all levels, Ricketts has made more than 1,000
presentations on leadership and alternative fuels. … In May 2006, Ricketts
testified during a U.S. House of Representatives Science Subcommittee on
Energy, urging for a focus on flex-fuel plug-in hybrids and noting the
potential for using hydrogen in the internal combustion engine component of the
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles as well.
Age: 66
MTSU title/years of service: Professor/38 years as a School of
Agribusiness and Agriscience faculty member and alternative fuels researcher
Hometown: Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Education: Earned bachelor’s in 1970 and master’s
(’73) degrees from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and doctorate (’82)
from Ohio State University
Family: Wife Nancy Ricketts; grown children John Ricketts, Mitzi Pigg and Paul
Ricketts; and seven grandchildren
Awards: MTSU Career Achievement Award; MTSU Public Service Award; two-time
recipient of MTSU Foundation’s Outstanding Teacher Award; and numerous other
honors
###
Media note: MTSU
News and Media Relations staff member Randy Weiler will be accompanying
Ricketts on the entire trip. Call 615-785-1196 (cell) or email Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu
to schedule an interview.
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