Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
G'day Peter Sounds like water in there somewhere. Check you oil for water. Methanol is a hygroscopic substance and if the tins been left open in humid conditions it to may have water in it? See the JtF site for more info on water in oil. I have seen items on the list about hydrogenated oil ? being difficult to process, you may want to check this out as well. Hope that helps Ian from NZ - Original Message - From: Peter Currie To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 11:01 AM Subject: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz ___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.orghttp://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.14/129 - Release Date: 11/10/2005 ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
if you ar having problems meausring lye because of humidity set up a large clear bag and put your scale and lye inside. you can use coat hangers to make a ridig frame to hold the plastic up. tape gloves through the side of plastic bag (the new extra large zip locks shoudlwork well). use and old or second can of lye and open it up and pour some in a pan after you have closed the bag let it absorbe teh water and CO2 from you dry box open a fresh can to be only opend after teh water and co2 has been absorbed. this should reduce your water and co2 absorption. Original Message Follows From: Kurt Nolte [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 23:24:53 -0400 Something I keep hitting over and over in all my prelim test batches (Still haven't made one any bigger than a liter...): How's your humidity, and are you absolutely certain that your weights for the lye are accurate? I was having some huge problems with emulsions on a shake test, and with the scale I just recently purchased (Jeweler's scale, up to 500g) I discovered just how inaccurate my old one was; I was using way too much lye, and taking far too long to measure it out. It was absorbing a great deal of water from the atmosphere (70%+ humidity is a constant here). How big are your test batches? The full 2L capacity, or are you only doing 1L batches? I eventually moved to smaller batches so I could measure out my lye quicker, it helped a bit. My current test batches I mix up in a small 400mL Mason-type canning jar, 300mL of oil to about 75mL of Methanol, and just use a hot water bath to bring it to temperature, shake it for ten or fifteen minutes, put it back in the bath for ten, shake fifteen soak ten, and so on for about an hour and half. Produced some very clear, clean-looking results so far. . Have you tried heating up your wash water before doing the shake test? That also helped... I'm slowly, very slowly progressing back up to full sized test batches while I gather parts. Hoped some of this helps! -Kurt On 10/15/05, Peter Currie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
THANKS CHRIS - I CAREFULLY DECANT FROM THE TOP OF BOTTLE LEAVING SETTLED (DEFINITE SEPERATION) AT BOTTOM. BIO IS CLOUDY BUT THE LONGER IT SITS THE CLEARER IT BECOMES. WHY USE 2.5G I THOUGHT I HAD TO USE 3.5G FOR VIRGIN OIL? REGARDS PETER FOM OZ - Original Message - From: Chris To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 1:25 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems Everything sounds good, although perhaps you could use 2.5 gms lye. You never say that you pull off the biodiesel from the glycerol though. It is so obvious that you may have not mentioned it. But, if you are not doing it, that's it. What does the biodiesel look like after separation? Chris KCayce, SC - Original Message - From: Peter Currie To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2005 6:01 PM Subject: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz ___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.orghttp://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.orghttp://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.10/119 - Release Date: 4/10/2005 ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
Everything sounds good, although perhaps you could use 2.5 gms lye. Why? Best Keith You never say that you pull off the biodiesel from the glycerol though. It is so obvious that you may have not mentioned it. But, if you are not doing it, that's it. What does the biodiesel look like after separation? Chris K Cayce, SC - Original Message - From: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]Peter Currie To: mailto:Biofuel@sustainablelists.orgBiofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2005 6:01 PM Subject: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
- Original Message - From: Kurt Nolte To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 1:24 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems Something I keep hitting over and over in all my prelim test batches (Still haven't made one any bigger than a liter...): How's your humidity, and are you absolutely certain that your weights for the lye are accurate? EARLY SPRING - LOW HUMIDITY- $300 DIGITAL SCALES- CHECKED OK I was having some huge problems with emulsions on a shake test, and with the scale I just recently purchased (Jeweler's scale, up to 500g) I discovered just how inaccurate my old one was; I was using way too much lye, and taking far too long to measure it out. It was absorbing a great deal of water from the atmosphere (70%+ humidity is a constant here). How big are your test batches? 1LT The full 2L capacity, or are you only doing 1L batches? I eventually moved to smaller batches so I could measure out my lye quicker, it helped a bit. My current test batches I mix up in a small 400mL Mason-type canning jar, 300mL of oil to about 75mL of Methanol, and just use a hot water bath to bring it to temperature, shake it for ten or fifteen minutes, put it back in the bath for ten, shake fifteen soak ten, and so on for about an hour and half. Produced some very clear, clean-looking results so far. .Have you tried heating up your wash water before doing the shake test? That also helped... I'm slowly, very slowly progressing back up to full sized test batches while I gather parts. HAVE BEEN USEING COLD WATER - WILL GO DO A WARM TEST NOWHoped some of this helps!-Kurt THANKS KURT WILL POST RESULTS On 10/15/05, Peter Currie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.orghttp://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.orghttp://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.10/119 - Release Date: 4/10/2005 ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
Hello Kurt Something I keep hitting over and over in all my prelim test batches (Still haven't made one any bigger than a liter...): How's your humidity, and are you absolutely certain that your weights for the lye are accurate? I was having some huge problems with emulsions on a shake test, and with the scale I just recently purchased (Jeweler's scale, up to 500g) I discovered just how inaccurate my old one was; I was using way too much lye, and taking far too long to measure it out. Good, I'll have an apology then thankyou. It was absorbing a great deal of water from the atmosphere (70%+ humidity is a constant here). Not very high. Don't you weigh it out into plastic bags? Easy to keep it dry once you get the knack of it. How big are your test batches? The full 2L capacity, or are you only doing 1L batches? I eventually moved to smaller batches so I could measure out my lye quicker, it helped a bit. Counter-productive, smaller measures mean less accurate measurements. Learn to keep the lye dry while measuring it out. My current test batches I mix up in a small 400mL Mason-type canning jar, 300mL of oil to about ? 75mL of Methanol, and just use a hot water bath to bring it to temperature, shake it for ten or fifteen minutes, put it back in the bath for ten, shake fifteen soak ten, and so on for about an hour and half. Produced some very clear, clean-looking results so far. . Have you tried heating up your wash water before doing the shake test? Room-temperature water, if you please. It's not just a school exam and all you have to do is pass it, never mind how. It's a quality control, on both your product and your processing. Room-temperature water. Keith Addison Journey to Forever KYOTO Pref., Japan http://journeytoforever.org/ That also helped... I'm slowly, very slowly progressing back up to full sized test batches while I gather parts. Hoped some of this helps! -Kurt On 10/15/05, Peter Currie mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems NO MORE
G'day Peter G'Day All Am elated and a little bit pissed that l havnt asked for help before. Following Kurts suggestion about Hot water to do shake test, went out to the shed (everyman needs a shed) and got sample, back inside, added hot water, watched telly for 2 mins, turned around and the b thing had settled like it never has b4. Over next 5-10 mins it settled to bio top, water below with a poofteenth white line inbetween which from readings is correct. Now why isnt this in standard recipe as l dont think it works for some with cold water and some with hot? Because Kurt's more of a newbie than you are and gave you lousy advice. The test is performed at ROOM TEMPERATURE with the quantities stipulated. l now presume that washing should be done with hot not cold water as well? (stir washing) It says at the Washing page that hot water works better, but you're getting confused, as I think Kurt is. he probably read that there and thought it applied to the wash-test. It doesn't apply to the wash-test or it'd say so. The purpose of washing is to your fuel, having made it according to the results of a test batch and a washing-test. With the washing test the purpose is NOT to wash the fuel and find the easiest way to do it, you're testing whether your fuel makes the grade or not. So now you've got it to separate, with hot water. You're doing well, keep going and you'll get it to separate with room-temperature water. l'm now going to stir wash the rest of this little sample with hot water and see what happens, Then go back to the beginning and start again. Best wishes Keith though l think l know what will, then l'll pester the tripe out of you for more advice whilst on the way to the biggies. thanks again Regards Peter from Oz ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
Everything sounds good, although perhaps you could use 2.5 gms lye. Why? Best Keith My thinking was that lye amount might be the cause, and he had varied on the high side but not the low side. (Perhaps his scale is off?) Just a thought, since he was using virgin oil. Chris K Cayce, SC ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
Hellom Chris Everything sounds good, although perhaps you could use 2.5 gms lye. Why? Best Keith My thinking was that lye amount might be the cause, Yes. and he had varied on the high side but not the low side. (Perhaps his scale is off? By about 30% either way. ) Just a thought, since he was using virgin oil. Makes sense, but the answer is to correct the chaotic scales or whatever, not the constants of the reaction to suit the scales. Best wishes Keith Chris K Cayce, SC ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
Something I keep hitting over and over in all my prelim test batches (Still haven't made one any bigger than a liter...): How's your humidity, and are you absolutely certain that your weights for the lye are accurate? I was having some huge problems with emulsions on a shake test, and with the scale I just recently purchased (Jeweler's scale, up to 500g) I discovered just how inaccurate my old one was; I was using way too much lye, and taking far too long to measure it out. It was absorbing a great deal of water from the atmosphere (70%+ humidity is a constant here). How big are your test batches? The full 2L capacity, or are you only doing 1L batches? I eventually moved to smaller batches so I could measure out my lye quicker, it helped a bit. My current test batches I mix up in a small 400mL Mason-type canning jar, 300mL of oil to about 75mL of Methanol, and just use a hot water bath to bring it to temperature, shake it for ten or fifteen minutes, put it back in the bath for ten, shake fifteen soak ten, and so on for about an hour and half. Produced some very clear, clean-looking results so far. . Have you tried heating up your wash water before doing the shake test? That also helped... I'm slowly, very slowly progressing back up to full sized test batches while I gather parts. Hoped some of this helps! -Kurt On 10/15/05, Peter Currie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz ___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
Everything sounds good, although perhaps you could use 2.5 gms lye. You never say that you pull off the biodiesel from the glycerol though. It is so obvious that you may have not mentioned it. But, if you are not doing it, that's it. What does the biodiesel look like after separation? Chris KCayce, SC - Original Message - From: Peter Currie To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2005 6:01 PM Subject: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz ___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.orghttp://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
