Re: [Biofuel] Trying to produce biodiesel in laboratory scale

[Andres Secco]

Sure, Think it is possible to buy it, ...but. Since sodium methoxide is a dangerous, toxic product which needs special warehousing, in restricted areas in some countries you may need a license to buy it. Even factories needs license to handle it and get that when demonstrates the proper training to operators. I prefer to have methanol and NaOH class 3 in the surroundings rather than class 4 dangerous products. Class 3 and 4 refer to how dangerous are the products. This info is in the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) of each product.   ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis Mahoney To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 10:38 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Trying to produce biodiesel in laboratory scale One thing I've never seen mentioned is using sodium methoxide from a company such as BASF.  I am using it in lab work and find it very convenient.  It is water-free and about 25% in methanol.  Take a look at this web page http://www.basf.com/businesses/chemicals/alcoholates/biodiesel/index.html   I do not know what the cost would be in the quantities you would use.  Btw BASF is very large and it is likely to be available in many countries.   Dennis ----- Original Message ----- From: Duarte Nuno Januário To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 6:02 PM Subject: [Biofuel] Trying to produce biodiesel in laboratory scale Hi all!     I’ve been trying (made 5 batches) to produce biodiesel in a laboratory, for educational purposes. This is what I’ve been doing:   -         1 liter of virgin oil from supermarket -         200 mL of methanol -         3,5 grams of sodium hydroxide -         Prepared the sodium metoxide by stirring for 24 hours (magnetic stirrer) in an closed Erlenmeyer -         Preheated the oil to 55ºC -         Using a flask with an attached Liebig condenser (to prevent methanol vapors to escape), mixed vigorously for 1 hour maintaining agitation and constant temperature (eventually drops to 52ºC when the metoxide is added) and maybe rising to a maximum of 60ºC at some instants. I do get a clear phase separation after 24 hours, but my biodiesel isn’t crystal clear. When I mix a sample of the unwashed biodiesel with water and shake it, the emulsion won’t separate . It will after some hours, but with a lot of soap formation, widespread in the container. I’m using good reactants (not p.a. but trustworthy) and anhydrous conditions.   There one thing I should say: I never got all the sodium hydroxide to completely dissolve in the methanol. No matter how long I keep stirring, it simply won’t dissolve quantitatively. But I do filtrate the remains of solid hydroxide. Do you think this can be the problem? How can I solve it?   What can I be doing wrong? Why do I keep getting all this soap? Where do you think the problem might be? In a reactant? Bad quality oil? Do you think I should titrate the virgin oil?   Thank you all for your attention     Duarte Nuno _______________________________________________ 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/ Visita www.tutopia.com y comienza a navegar más rápido en Internet.Tutopia es Internet para todos.

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