Maria "Girl Mark" Alovert is the inventor of the Appleseed biodiesel processor commonly found in small-scale biodiesel operations. This batch processor is based on a water heater, and can convert 30-100 gallons of vegetable oil into biodiesel in a few hours, with an equipment cost of approximately US$200.
Alovert's zine, "Biodiesel Homebrew Guide", is in its tenth edition, and is widely accepted as the definitive how-to guide for homebrew biodiesel production. Through workshops and conferences across the United States, she has become a central figure in small scale (<50K gallon/year) biodiesel production technology, analytics, and implementation.
As a grassroots activist, Alovert has developed a following that is often at odds with "establishment" biodiesel interests. The grassroots is typified by small producer coops, small ideals-based businesses, and individuals who are making biodiesel for their personal use. Large commercial producers (greater than 5M gal/yr) are often established agricultural interests, such as Cargill or Archer Daniels Midland. Tensions between these two groups arise on subjects such as fuel quality, safety, and blending.
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