Bently Agrowdynamics - News | A Bently Family Company

Bently Agrowdynamics of Minden, Nevada will be opening its first biofuel production plant in Minden this spring

Bently Biofuels building under construction

22 April 2005 — Bently Agrowdynamics of Minden, Nevada will be opening its first biofuel production plant in Minden this spring. This plant will produce biodiesel from recycled cooking oil and locally grown canola seed oil. Bently Agrowdynamics is collecting used cooking oil from area restaurants to use as feedstock in this new facility. They will deliver clean empty drums and pick up the full ones at no charge to the restaurant owner provided no water or trash is mixed with the cooking oil. In fact, they will pay up to 40¢ per gallon for the used oil. This is a dramatic change for restaurant owners who previously had to pay a waste hauler to dispose of the used oil.

Don Bently, the owner and chief executive officer of Bently Agrowdynamics notes “This a much more efficient fuel than ethanol or other products made by fermentation processes.” While ethanol is made from fermentation, biodiesel is derived from the chemical conversion of animal or vegetable oils (tri-glycerides) into methyl esters. The reaction happens quickly at room temperature when tri-glycerides are mixed with methanol and common lye (potassium hydroxide). A byproduct of this reaction is glycerin which can be used in cosmetics, dust suppression, or compost. The Minden biodiesel plant will re-use all of the process streams with some of the by-products being recycled into Bently Agrowdynamics already successful composting program. The new building will be designed to minimize energy consumption with solar hot water heat used to supplement a boiler that can burn the brown grease that is not converted into biodiesel.

Biodiesel can be blended with or substitute for petroleum diesel in a variety of applications such as transportation or heating. Most diesel engines manufactured after 1994 will need no modifications to use biodiesel. Some older engines may have natural rubber hoses or gaskets that need to be replaced with modern synthetic rubbers that will not be affected by methyl ester (the chemical name for biodiesel). Biodiesel will “gel” at higher temperatures than regular diesel so in the winter it is wise to use blends or additives to avoid this problem.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that contains no sulfur and reduces acid rain, toxic emissions, and greenhouse gasses. Because biodiesel is made from biomass, the CO₂ (carbon dioxide) that is produced in the combustion of the fuel is recaptured in the manufacturing cycle. Other pollutants that are normally associated with petroleum diesel such as CO (carbon monoxide), uncombusted hydrocarbons, particulate matter, and known carcinogens are all reduced when biodiesel is used at 100% (B100) or in blends with petroleum diesel. A slight increase in NO x emissions is seen with biodiesel but this can be reduced with catalytic converters or engine tuning.

The most exciting aspect of this new fuel is that it can be produced locally from seed oils and recycled cooking oils. Not only is biodiesel easier on the environment but it will also improve our national security and balance of trade by reducing our need for foreign oil imports.

For additional information contact Bently Agrowdynamics at 775-783-4654 or email

News Release (PDF 117KB)

Bently Agrowdynamics - Progressive and sustainable agricultural practices with crop, cattle, and compost production - A Bently Family Company.

Bently Agrowdynamics of Minden, Nevada will be opening its first biofuel production plant in Minden this spring