I have just started working with making BioDiesel and want to refine my
process - there seem to be some bugs to work out.
First batch in a used blender from a local thrift store; scary as the
blender started to leak everywhere at the Sodium Methoxide stage (tested
it with water first; no leaks then...). The leak was slow enough - so I
continued, reasoning that the oil would probably stay in the blender
long enough and I could make the area safe. Overnight there was a sticky
mess left at the base of the blender (now sitting in a bowl) and
something a lot thinner left in the blender. Wrote it off as a disaster,
however now not so sure...
Take 2: Same process but mixed it by vigorously agitating in a 2L
polyethylene container - again using fresh Canola oil after heating oil
up to about 50degC before mixing. Seemed to work like a charm, however;
1) Product was slightly cloudy - sorty of 'fuzzy'. Is this normal?
Does it just need to settle?
2) In contrast to Mike Pelly's description (Journey to Forever) the
Glycerine layer was liquid and
remained so until I exposed it to air. After a couple of days
with the lid off - it started gelling up. Is
this normal/correct? Mike seems to describe the layer as
solidifying almost straight away below
38degC.
I figured that this was probably, on balance, a reasonable start - so I
did my first small and then large batch with waste veg. oil. I made the
mistake of titrating using phenol red rather than phenolthalein (sp?) so
the titration pH may have been closer to 8 than the ideal 8.5; ie. may
have used too little lye. May have done. However please don't let that
prejudice the jury.
Small batch came out okay except the product and glycerine were both
much darker in colour than the original batch colours. Glycerine was
*very* dark brown. BioD layer was again a slightly fuzzy dark amber.
Looked and smelled good... Consistency of both products the same as with
the Canola. Both liquid down to 10degC at least (working temperature in
my Garage right now (nr. Victoria, BC)).
Product had same fuzziness.
Then I tried the 'mix with water, shake vigorously for 10 seconds and
watch for 30 mins test'. I got a load of white and the separation was
*really* slow. It never cleared. My guess is that the white stuff was
hydrated soaps.
Tentative conclusions:
---
1) Working environment probably not the most conducive to soap freedom
right now; cold/condensation being an issue. I am being careful, and
this is likely less of a factor with large batches than with small.
2) Source WVO probably had water in it - it had been standing for a
while. No - I did not boil it off first.
3) Titration may be a little off due to using the wrong indicator -
perhaps reaction did not go far enough?
I would really appreciate any help in understanding/debugging further.
You could save me a lot of time, which with 2 young kids (who I want to
grow up knowing about this kind of stuff, coz they are going to need
it...) is at a premium.
Best
Don
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