Saturday, July 12, 2008
How to do it
Making Biodiesel
The process of transesterification uses sodium hydroxide (lye) as the catalyst to replace the glycerine in vegetable oil and replace it with an alcohol molecule. The glycerine separates from the vegetable oil and sinks to the bottom of the container.
Some things to remember when making biodiesel are to watch the water content of the oil you’re using. Water can cause soap to form during the reaction and can take the form of a third layer between the glycerine and biodiesel or create suspended soap/water spots in the biodiesel. If too much lye was used, you could end up with a vat of jello.
Lower temperatures produce lower conversion rates during the reaction. Heating the oil 100 degrees Fahrenheit before and during the process will help raise the quality of the fuel created by releasing more glycerine. Lower glycerine amounts help the fuel perform better at lower temperatures and burn cleaner.
Verify the type of oil being used by your source if using waste oil. Someone may be mixing different types of waste in with the vegetable oil.
Take your time while learning to make biodiesel. Creating good habits will help you stay safe and improve the quality of the fuel your making.
Test batches are worth their weight in gold. I don’t know how many times someone has asked me what happened to the first 40 gallon batch they make that turned into glop.
Making biodiesel is not difficult, but understanding the process helps immensely.
BE CAREFULE WITH THE LYE AND METHANOL!
The process of transesterification uses sodium hydroxide (lye) as the catalyst to replace the glycerine in vegetable oil and replace it with an alcohol molecule. The glycerine separates from the vegetable oil and sinks to the bottom of the container.
Some things to remember when making biodiesel are to watch the water content of the oil you’re using. Water can cause soap to form during the reaction and can take the form of a third layer between the glycerine and biodiesel or create suspended soap/water spots in the biodiesel. If too much lye was used, you could end up with a vat of jello.
Lower temperatures produce lower conversion rates during the reaction. Heating the oil 100 degrees Fahrenheit before and during the process will help raise the quality of the fuel created by releasing more glycerine. Lower glycerine amounts help the fuel perform better at lower temperatures and burn cleaner.
Verify the type of oil being used by your source if using waste oil. Someone may be mixing different types of waste in with the vegetable oil.
Take your time while learning to make biodiesel. Creating good habits will help you stay safe and improve the quality of the fuel your making.
Test batches are worth their weight in gold. I don’t know how many times someone has asked me what happened to the first 40 gallon batch they make that turned into glop.
Making biodiesel is not difficult, but understanding the process helps immensely.
BE CAREFULE WITH THE LYE AND METHANOL!
Labels: making biodiesel
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