KOH is a little more $$ than NaOH, and you have to use slightly more, but the results are much better, and using KOH produces much less soap than NaOH. Check local chemical suppliers for either KOH or NaOH.

I use 25 gal WVO/ 5 gal Methanol/ 3lbs KOH per batch.

FABMANDELUX.

 

How much would 3lbs of KOH probably cost? And if I cant find it local would I be able to buy it off the net?

 

Future
Have you figured out titration yet?

 

I understand it better now, but not 100% still.

 

Maybe I can help.
What is puzzling you about it?

 

I know you start adding the lye/water mixture to the methanol/oil mixture, and then you stop when it reaches a certain point, but I dont know what that point is. How do you know its the right color?

 

My cost is $.96 per pound in 55 lb bags. You can buy off the web, but it is more $$$$$$$$$$$
Your best bet is to find a local supplier.
Most Large cities have chemical suppliers that will be glad to sell it to you. My supplier sells not only KOH but also Methanol.

FABMANDELUX.

 

What kind of suppliers do you use? Are the specificlly chemical suppliers? or places that sell other things? When I look in the yellow pages or search the net for "chemical suppliers" I get results for alot of "chemical and paper" suppliers. I would assume that most of their chemicals would be cleaning supplies. Hmmm.

 

Try "Industrial Chemical Suppliers"

 

Hmm, Still no results, and I live about 45min from New Orleans. I even tried searching for one there and didnt find one. You would think that a city that big would have something.

 

I found 5 for ya, #1, Al-Con Chemical:504-945-8530
#2, Deep South Chemical: 504-523-8913
#3, Gulf Engineering Co INC: 504-733-4868
#4, Snee Chemical Co : 504-734-7633
#5, X-Chem Inc : 504-733-5818

FABMANDELUX.

 

Wow, and I thought I was great at web searches. guess not. If you dont mind, see what you can find in biloxi or gulfport MS.

 

Go to Yahoo Yellow Pages, type in location, type in what your searching for and presto!

FABMANDELUX.

 

Thanks, I appricate the help.

 

Thanks Fab! I'm actually washing in a separate 'washer'. I have two, both patterned after the 'standpipe' wash tank on the biodieselcommunity webpage. The two wash tanks feed a 55 gallon 'dryer' that allows me to aerate and dry the bioD much faster than just letting it sit in an open barrel. It also allows me to mix in petrodiesel if I decide to blend (for winter).

I've learned a couple of things this weekend. First, I need a 1500 watt heating element. The 1250 I'm using gets the oil to about 125 and then just sorta peters out. I like the idea of being able to heat the oil a bit more before starting the reaction. I'm also going to insulate all the exposed metal pipes. I'll leave my plastic return line untouched so that I can monitor what's going on.

Second thing I learned is that when you're told to add the bioD to the washer 'slowly', then you need to add the stuff SLOWLY. Like a trickle. A SLOW trickle. You add it too fast, you end up with an emulsion (think mayonaise). Then you get to wait for a couple of days while the emulsion separates back out. So much for time-saving shortcuts. Well, it's been an interesting weekend and it looks like it's gonna be an interesting week! I hope to start my second batch Wednesday afternoon. That'll give me 50 gallons of B100 - just about enough to fill my truck!