Hi Todd, Harmon and all >American Plastics Council has a pretty good description of the >physical properties of most domestically available plastics at > >http://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/benefits/about_plastics/resin_ >codes/resin.html
Thanks Todd, that's just what I wanted. I guess that's just for the US though, but it's a good basis for comparison, and I just found I do have some American HDPE containers here, duly marked as you said, Harmon. Maybe Midori will find me a similar Japanese resource, if I ask her nicely. There should be something similar covering Europe. I know someone in England who uses plastic buckets for methoxide, and stirs them with a piece of wood. Protective gear, safety goggles, HD gloves, apron and boots. Have running water handy. Don't overfill the bucket - use two buckets rather, not more than half-filled. Add lye to alcohol. Wash everything thoroughly afterwards (including the piece of wood). Mark all containers. No kids or pets. Are plastic buckets usually HDPE? By the way, Todd, would you happen to know whether the amount of heat generated is entirely due to the proportion of lye to alcohol, or does quantity matter as well? That is, will say 10gm of lye in 200 ml (or whatever) reach about the same temperature as 10kg in 200 litres? Stirring rate will also matter, but given that it's the same in both cases? Thanks! Best Keith >Todd Swearingen > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Keith Addison > To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2002 12:01 PM > Subject: Re: [biofuel] acceptable containers for methoxide mixing > > > Hi Todd and all > > I guess HDPE = High-Density PolyEthylene. > > Is there a simple way of identifying plastics, and other than HDPE, > which types would be suitable? I've had a couple of tough-looking > plastic measuring jugs I used for methoxide which quite quickly > started starring and getting spider-web cracks, and finally just > disintegrated. > > Keith > > >You really want to stay away from glass. Caustic splattering all over hell > >and half of creation due to a minor lack of attention or slip is not a > >pretty thought. > > > >Mixing alcohol and catalyst generates great amounts of heat, to the point > >that the alcohol can boil. > > > >Using plastic jugs is not a wise idea, as generally people tend to think > >they can simply place the lid on and shake vigorously. > > > >That's a disaster waiting to happen...pressure can build up... lids can pop > >off...seams can split. > > > >If I had to reccommend, I would suggest gentle agitation in a thick HDPE > >container, inside a retainment vessel of some sort, to catch spills, slops > >and leaks. > > > >AND NEVER.....unless you really want to take on a high risk for eye damage > >and an expensive ER and optomological specialist's visit.....NEVER mix > >alcohol and catalyst or work with the mixture without safety goggles. > > > >Bases can do far more damage to eye tissue in a shorter time period than > >acids. > > > >Todd Swearingen > > > >HDPE is probably the most readily available and sufficient > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: Stuart Kreitman > >To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com > >Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2002 12:57 AM > >Subject: [biofuel] acceptable containers for methoxide mixing > > > > > >I understand that glass or stainless steel are best for preparing > >methoxide, but what about > >plastics? Which plastics work, which do not, and how do you tell ? other > >than sacrificing a small > >sample in a glass jar of methoxide). > > > >skk ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> FREE COLLEGE MONEY CLICK HERE to search 600,000 scholarships! http://us.click.yahoo.com/iZp8OC/4m7CAA/ySSFAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
