How to Mix Your Biodiesel
Ensure safety first., Measure the catalyst., Mix the methoxide., Add methoxide to the heated oil., Water-wash.After all the glycerin is drained (up to 24hours), turn on the pump and add water to the oil to start the water wash. Keep it simple.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Ensure safety first.
You are working with some chemicals and vapors that could be dangerous if handled incorrectly.
It is very important for you to wear the proper safety equipment and work in a well-ventilated area.
Make sure to wear rubber gloves and face shield at all times.
The tiny dust particles in the potassium hydroxide could cause irritation and damage if inhaled.
The face shield and dusk mask will help keep the dust particles and any chemical splash away from your face. -
Step 2: Measure the catalyst.
For each liter of oil you're going to turn into biodiesel, you need seven grams of potassium hydroxide.
In addition to that, you need to add "extra" grams of potassium hydroxide equal to the titration.
To break it down nice and easy: if your oil titrates at 2, you need 7 plus 2 or 9 grams (0.071 or
0.32 oz) of potassium hydroxide for each liter of oil.
Place the plastic container on the scale and fill it with the correct amount of potassium hydroxide. , When you have measured out the amount of potassium hydroxide you will need for your batch of biodiesel, grab your funnel and place it on the container with the methanol.
Make sure the amount of methanol you use is 20% to 22% of the original volume of your batch of oil.
Pour in the potassium hydroxide and let it settle.
Place the valve cap on the container of methanol.
As the potassium hydroxide dissolves into the methanol, the mixture will heat up and boil.
Bubbles will appear on the bottom of the plastic container.
Hold the plastic container away from you and open the valve to release the vapor pressure.
These vapors can be very dangerous if inhaled, so keep the end of the container an arm's length away from your face shield as you release the vapors.
Release the vapors about every 20 seconds until the potassium hydroxide is completely dissolved.
You can tell by looking at the bottom of the container.
Once dissolved, you can add this “methoxide” to the oil in your processor. , The oil in your processor should be heated to somewhere between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit before you add the methoxide.
The heat cannot rise above 140 °F (60 °C) because it will cause the methanol to boil.
Slowly add the methoxide into the processor. it should be added relatively slowly; taking about five or ten minutes to add into the oil through an inlet to the pump.
Drain the glycerin waste product from the mix.
Your oil will change from dark (glycerin) to light (crude biodiesel) in color as it is drained. , You need 5% of the original oil volume and let the water circulate in the tank for about 15 minutes.
If you have 40 gallons (151.4 L) of oil, you need two gallons of water.
Let this circulate and then replace the dirty water with clean... repeat these steps until the water stays clearer as you have washed out many of the impurities out of the oil.
You may then finally dry you fuel to remove any water suspended in it.
Heat the fuel and ideally recirculate by spraying it back in.
This will dry the fuel a lot quicker.
When you take sample ensure that the fuel is bright and clear.
Keeping drying it for a further 15 minutes to ensure when it cools it remains water free. -
Step 3: Mix the methoxide.
-
Step 4: Add methoxide to the heated oil.
-
Step 5: Water-wash.After all the glycerin is drained (up to 24hours)
-
Step 6: turn on the pump and add water to the oil to start the water wash. Keep it simple.
Detailed Guide
You are working with some chemicals and vapors that could be dangerous if handled incorrectly.
It is very important for you to wear the proper safety equipment and work in a well-ventilated area.
Make sure to wear rubber gloves and face shield at all times.
The tiny dust particles in the potassium hydroxide could cause irritation and damage if inhaled.
The face shield and dusk mask will help keep the dust particles and any chemical splash away from your face.
For each liter of oil you're going to turn into biodiesel, you need seven grams of potassium hydroxide.
In addition to that, you need to add "extra" grams of potassium hydroxide equal to the titration.
To break it down nice and easy: if your oil titrates at 2, you need 7 plus 2 or 9 grams (0.071 or
0.32 oz) of potassium hydroxide for each liter of oil.
Place the plastic container on the scale and fill it with the correct amount of potassium hydroxide. , When you have measured out the amount of potassium hydroxide you will need for your batch of biodiesel, grab your funnel and place it on the container with the methanol.
Make sure the amount of methanol you use is 20% to 22% of the original volume of your batch of oil.
Pour in the potassium hydroxide and let it settle.
Place the valve cap on the container of methanol.
As the potassium hydroxide dissolves into the methanol, the mixture will heat up and boil.
Bubbles will appear on the bottom of the plastic container.
Hold the plastic container away from you and open the valve to release the vapor pressure.
These vapors can be very dangerous if inhaled, so keep the end of the container an arm's length away from your face shield as you release the vapors.
Release the vapors about every 20 seconds until the potassium hydroxide is completely dissolved.
You can tell by looking at the bottom of the container.
Once dissolved, you can add this “methoxide” to the oil in your processor. , The oil in your processor should be heated to somewhere between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit before you add the methoxide.
The heat cannot rise above 140 °F (60 °C) because it will cause the methanol to boil.
Slowly add the methoxide into the processor. it should be added relatively slowly; taking about five or ten minutes to add into the oil through an inlet to the pump.
Drain the glycerin waste product from the mix.
Your oil will change from dark (glycerin) to light (crude biodiesel) in color as it is drained. , You need 5% of the original oil volume and let the water circulate in the tank for about 15 minutes.
If you have 40 gallons (151.4 L) of oil, you need two gallons of water.
Let this circulate and then replace the dirty water with clean... repeat these steps until the water stays clearer as you have washed out many of the impurities out of the oil.
You may then finally dry you fuel to remove any water suspended in it.
Heat the fuel and ideally recirculate by spraying it back in.
This will dry the fuel a lot quicker.
When you take sample ensure that the fuel is bright and clear.
Keeping drying it for a further 15 minutes to ensure when it cools it remains water free.
About the Author
Denise Smith
Enthusiastic about teaching cooking techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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