Take notes. I'm next.

 

How ya doin Jim ????????????

 

My dad is wanting to find and old isuzu pup or trooper. Or an older 7.3l with dual tanks to run off vege oil.

 

UPDATE:

The 2nd batch set up a bad emulsion as i tried to water wash it. This happened because when I added the water to the 2 liter bottle, I turned it back over so the water would settle to the cap and I could drain it. When I turned it over, the mixing action was too violent.

Emulsion is basically when the glycerin (soap) that is still held in the solution of biodiesel mixes with the water to form a white, soapy solution. Given proper time it would have settled on its own, but I'm too impatient for that.

I'm going to try another test batch; This time, after the glycerine settles out and is drained, I'm going to either bubble-wash or heat the biodiesel to evaporate the remaining methanol, then according to theory.. most of the remaining glycerine in the solution should drop out.. I think then a single water wash would do the trick. and with most of the glycerine out it should be huch harder for an emulsion to setup.

I may also rig up a water mister in the top of the 2 liter bottle so I can introduce the wash a bit more gently.. these next pics should be..... interesting

On a side note, my 55gal drum of methanol should be delivered on tues.

 

It won't be long till you are burn'n your own juice in that black beauty.

 

update:

Did another test batch this evening, this time I used some of the waste oil and did an actual titration test on it.

We'll see how it turns out in the morning..

You guys might find it interesting that so far, I've not had to send off for anything.. most of the stuff needed can be bought at wally-world

Titration Kit:

1) 1 Liter bottle
2) Distilled Water
3) Isopropyl Alcohol 91% or ISO HEET
4) Sodium Hydroxide aka LYE aka NaOH ( Roebic drain opener @ lowes )
5) 10ml measuring syringes
6) Phenol Red PH indicator Solution ( in the pool chemicals )

to make a test batch in a 2 liter bottle:

1) 2 Liter bottle
2) 1 Liter new veggie oil ( canola is ideal )
3) 220ml methanol ( yellow HEET gas line antifreeze )
4) 4 grams of LYE, or about 1/2 teaspoon

1) Heat oil to 120 -130F
2) mix lye and methanol in seperate container to create methoxide ( they say this is toxic )
3) Pour oil into 2 liter bottle, add methoxide mix and shake for 10 seconds
4) balance the bottle on the lid. the glycerin will settle out as a darker layer on the bottom over the course of about 12 hours. Whats on top is unwashed biodiesel.
Allowing it to settle over the course of a few weeks should ensure that most of the glycerin has settled out
5) Drain off the darker layer.. and discard

The top layer is "unwashed" biodiesel. you can burn this in moderation, but it still contains a moderate amount of glycerin.. adding 1 liter to a 30gal tank is roughly = B1,
so I can't foresee any issues when its diluted to that extent..

Sorry for the long post..

 

I think I see part of the problem. Your reactant temperature is too low. Try heating to 140-150 before you mix.

 

Agreed

but when I did the 2nd test batch, 140F oil deformed the 2 liter bottle substantially.
From the research I've done, as long as you are above 100F you will get good reaction.

140 will be my target in the main processor

 

Did you use the oil from my house?

 

Yea, I used some of the catfish oil.

This batch turned out very well.. I got a complete seperation

and after i evaporated the remaining methanol, the remaining glycerine
settled out as well.

I'll get some pictures this evening

 

heres a picture of the 3rd test batch.. i wasted quite a bit of this batch in various stages of seperation. This has not been washed:



Somehow, the "Made in USA" on the jar, just makes it better
These results are promising, as it means I can brew it without any water washing whatsoever.



In it to win it:

 

Man it looks delicious....hows it taste?

 

Like a fish dinner

I'm held up with getting the processor setup at the moment because we need to move a car out of the way and the ground is still a bit too soft.

Oh and next week guess what... more rain


We've also got to do a few electrical upgrades on the shop.

 

It looks like you are doing great Joe were going to have to come over and check this out.

 

Yeah!!!!! Party at Joes house

Sounds muddy, everybody bring the 4x4's!!!