The source of oil that we have titrates @ between 8.5 - 9.5 g/liter. Do you guys have a recommendation on the best way to process oil this acidic? thanks.

 

what kind of lye are you using?

 

Use 22% methanol by volume ratio instead of 20% and process it like normal, your yield will be about 85%. The only other thing you can try is blend it with a lower titrating oil or add some glycol from a previous batch to bring the titration numbers down.

 

i wouldn't be worried if you are using NaOH. That is where a lot of oil I use titrates.

I use 25% methanol and process for ~ 90 minutes. always passes the 3/27 test.

 

We are using KOH. We are also looking @ mixing with less acidic oils, but right now this is the only source that we have. Never thought about adding glycerol from a previous batch, might be something to look at. We were thinking of using 22% methanol also.

It is reassuring that you are using oil that titrates that high also. The other place that we want to get oil from titrates @ 1.7 mg / ml, but he is locked into a contract until April.

thanks,
Trent

 

Trent, with KOH the base is 8. are you saying you need to add 9 grams to the base?

 

yes, unless we decide to use the acid-base method. This will be the first large batch for us, so I'm not too excited about trying something new, especially where H2SO4 is involved.

 

17 grams/liter is a lot. have you run another titration to be sure?

 

Ran 3. but that's better than the oil that we got from venders in Sturgis, it titrated over 12.

 

are you warming the methanol & oil when you are mixing them together?

 

haven't got that far yet. Just doing titration. reactor has been put together temporarilly, but its permanant home isn't ready yet.

 

i meant during titration.

 

Trent
just for fun re verify your titration KOH solution, just to be sure nothing has been contaminated.

 

I re-ran samples that I had done when I 1st made the solution and familiarizing myself with the process and got the same results, so I think the KOH solution is still good.

Sorry empiretc, the methanol reference made me think you were talking about the actual reaction and not the titration. I have been using Isoprophyl alcohol for titration.