Joe,
I took a sample from my latest batch of BD destined for my
boiler (failed QT; but very little residue dropped out). It had
settled for almost 10 hrs.
That was yesterday morning. Today there is a small, but
noticable, bit of glycerine on the bottom. More settled out after
the initial 10 hrs of settling.
I don't have any results with good BD to compare it with.
If it turns out that glycerine settles out slower from
incomplete vs complete reactions, it would answer the question I
asked about getting emulsions when I washed low quality BD after
letting it settle overnight, but not getting emulsions when it
settled for a few days to a week.
It would also help with a friendly disagreement I have with
a friend. He seems to think that unreacted glycerides will settle
out of the BD given time. He has taken to going with about 16%
(vol/vol) of methanol in his batches.
His logic:
"Unreacted oil causes emulsions, right?"
"The emulsions I get in the first wash after settling
the BD overnight are due to the unreacted oil?"
"When I let it settle for a week or more I don't get
emulsions, therefore the unreacted oil must have settled out."
More likely:
Some unreacted glycerides are still there, but after a week
of settling more of the glycerine has settled out. Even a small
amount of glycerine compound the emulsifying effects of the
unreacted glycerides ..... Yes?
By the way, I always ask him "Did you do a quality test?"
His answer: "Oops, I forgot."
Thanks Joe .... and Rod ..... for bringing this to my
attention
A push to make a lot of BD for heat is just around the
corner. It might be best to include more settling time in the
schedule.
Tom
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Joe Street <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*To:* biofuel@sustainablelists.org
<mailto:biofuel@sustainablelists.org>
*Sent:* Tuesday, August 07, 2007 3:02 PM
*Subject:* Re: [Biofuel] Biofuel Quality Test
Hey Tom;
Take a sample from your fuel after settling 6-8 hrs and set
it asside in a mason jar for the longer period and see what
settles out. Rod believes that glycerin settles slower in a
poorly completed reaction. I believe he is right. And yes
it only takes a little glycerin to emulsify your wash.
Joe
Thomas Kelly wrote:
Mike,
I let mine settle for a week when I can. It washes much easier. I doubt
that it does anything for an incomplete reaction though. That is to say, I
don't think the unreacted oil will settle out.
But:
I have been wondering about something.
When I started making BD it would never pass the methanol quality test.
I inevitably got emulsions in the wash. Now, when I make BD for my
"oil"-fired boiler, I use only about 16-17% (vol/vol) of methanol. The BD
does not pass the quality test, but I don't have the same emulsion problems.
Is it because I let it settle longer (24+ hours vs 6 - 8 hrs)?
Does the presence of a small amount of glycerine/soaps make that much of
a difference when trying to wash BD from an incomplete reaction?
Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Weaver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <biofuel@sustainablelists.org>
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 2:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Biofuel Quality Test
FWIW - I let the batch settle for a week or so (the lazy man's way) and
that also seems to help w/ this.
Thomas Kelly wrote:
Shawn,
I suspect that the "dense substance at the bottom of the flask" was
unreacted glycerides, indicating an incomplete reaction.
I now drain a sample of the mix towards the end of processing.
- Shut off the pump
- Drain a sample and turn the pump back on
- Allow the glycerin to settle for a few minutes
- Perform Jan W's quality test on the top (crude BD) layer
There is still glycerin in the mix, but if I have succeeded in
getting
a complete reaction, I do not get an insoluble residue on the bottom.
I repeat the test after washing the BD. It is a quick, easy test, and
the
result, whether it passed or failed can be added to the methoxide for your
next batch ..... no wasted methanol, costs nothing to perform the test.
Best to You,
Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: "shawn patrick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Biofuel Mailing List" <biofuel@sustainablelists.org>
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 9:03 AM
Subject: [Biofuel] Biofuel Quality Test
Good Day All,
My question is in regards to the Quality test develop by Jan Warnqvist.
Is
this test to be performed on the product before or after the glycerin has
been removed, or does it matter. I performed the test with out removing
glycerin and found that I got a clear bright phase except you could tell
that there was a more dense substance at the bottom of the flask. I
assumed
that was the glycerin since just extracted a sample from the process
without
separating BD from glycerin. Does the glycerin dissolve in the methanol??
Was I looking at the unprocessed materials in my BD??
Regards
Shawn Patrick
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