TOPIC DESCRIPTION
Biofuels have hardly been discussed with respect to spill issues. Little is known about first generation biofuel
blends, including ethanol/gasoline blends (e.g., E85) and biodiesel blends (e.g., B100, B20), in terms of spill
response technologies and determination of fate and effects after a spill. In addition, the fate and effects of
second generation biofuels (e.g., biobutanol, hydrotreated vegetable oils); crude oil fractions replacing
nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur with hydrogen; and synfuels (e.g., produced by the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process)
on the environment are unknown. Possible impacts of biofuel blends and synfuels on infrastructure (e.g.,
storage and dispensing equipment, materials compatibility with metals and gaskets) could lead to more spills
if such materials are breached. Waste conversion to energy and processes such as algaeculture (which can
produce orders of magnitude more oil per acre than vegetable oil crops)—may also have impacts during spills
in the environment. Safety of production and water preservation through closed loop processes will also be
discussed.
GROUP MEMBERS
Bruce Hollebone, Group Lead, bruce.hollebone@ec.gc.ca
Marc Hodges, hodgesm@api.org
Jeff Kimble, kimble.jeffrey@epa.gov
Steve Lehmann, steve.lehmann@noaa.gov
Latarsha McQueen, latarsha.s.mcqueen@uscg.mil
Chris Reddy, creddy@whoi.edu
Al Venosa, venosa.albert@epamail.epa.gov
Greg Wilson, wilson.gregory@epa.gov
GROUP RESOURCES
