Recent Posts

21

Chemistry and process / Re: Help! Reaction not happening.

« Last post by neisel on July 13, 2025, 01:14:07 PM »

"I've had this problem come up again.."

How did you fix the problem when it happened before?

Please include the quantities of chemicals, WVO etc you used. It might be helpful for those who understand chemistry.

22

Chemistry and process / Help! Reaction not happening.

« Last post by Sonex on July 13, 2025, 12:44:23 PM »

Having made biodiesel for years, I've had this problem come up again.  The oil titrated at about 4.  I mixed KOH in the methanol until it dissolved.  The mixture then got mixed into the heated up oil.  I stirred it up.  A couple hours later, I came to drain out the glycerin, but there was none.  No reaction took place.  WTF?

Could the oil contain cleaning agents, which stymie the reaction?  What should I do with this bad batch?

23

Chatter / Re: Meth

« Last post by dgs on July 09, 2025, 08:50:14 AM »

Can you recommend what to purchase?
Don't want to mess that up as well.

Looked on ebay and can't seem to find exactly the correct one. It has to be accurate in the correct range.

Virgin merhanol has a specific gravity of 0.79 so any water contamination increases that figure. I'll look at the wiki and see if there is any info.

24

Chatter / Re: Meth

« Last post by BANDIT2 on July 06, 2025, 11:44:29 AM »

Can you recommend what to purchase?
Don't want to mess that up as well.

25

Chatter / Re: Meth

« Last post by dgs on July 04, 2025, 01:59:55 PM »

I don't know if it's wet or low purity.
Unless low purity means its got more water in it and they are one and the same?

Not really, if there are low %ages of other solvents it lowers the purity but usually doesn't affect the yield as much as water. Just test it with a hydrometer, simple enough.

26

Chatter / Re: Meth

« Last post by BANDIT2 on July 04, 2025, 08:22:07 AM »

I don't know if it's wet or low purity.
Unless low purity means its got more water in it and they are one and the same?

27

Chatter / Re: Karcher pressure washer problem..

« Last post by BANDIT2 on July 03, 2025, 12:50:25 PM »

Wow! Over 4 yrs I've been messing with this thing, on and off of course.
Anyway..I've fixed it!
Symptoms were, motor pulsed when switch on and then the mcb would trip. The heater coil was blocked solid so I got a new one ages back, didn't cure it although water would now run through it but no pressure at all.fitted all new valves to the pump head, no differance, got a good used pump head, no differance. This thing is an industrial hot and cold pressure washer so worth spending some cash on it but I was up to nearly £400 by now and seriously thinking of breaking it for parts, it was doing my head in!
The pump head has two switches that operate by water pressure and control the contactor in the electrical box, when you let go of the lance trigger, excess pressure builds up very quickly closing one of the switches and removes the supply to the contactor and the machine stops.
When you pull the lance trigger again something electricery happens from the other switch and the motor starts up again.
Are you bored yet? No! OK, I'll continue.
This thing was free, didn't work, giver new nowt about it.
Turned out the two switches were wired wrong, back to front basically, only found out when I managed to get a wiring diagram and translate it from german.
Works a treat on cold but the burner wouldn't fire up. That was just a knacked fuel pump solenoid, bit pricey at £55 but that all works now. Bit smokey ill play with the burner nozzle and air settings which should cure that.
Well happy with it now.

28

Chatter / Re: Meth

« Last post by dgs on July 03, 2025, 12:32:58 PM »

Guilty m'lord.
Looking through old posts it was bonnymans selling the duff meth, think it was Tony who had major issues with it, not sure on that though.
I'm wondering if I do a minimum koh with lots of meth that that might move this batch on a bit.
I got 35 ltrs of glyc from stage 1 from a 180ltr batch so I must(should?) Have had a reaction! 90/10 shows 20% conversion, the 'bio' sample looks like warm oil, quite thick.
I'm worried that if I add anymore chems it'll end up like the batch before this one and become a soapy unconverted mess, that batch has been put to one side for now in the hope I can rescue it later on.

Just dry it with cement, a bit messy but it will solve all your problems if it is the methanol.

29

Chatter / Re: Meth

« Last post by BANDIT2 on July 03, 2025, 10:08:35 AM »

Guilty m'lord.
Looking through old posts it was bonnymans selling the duff meth, think it was Tony who had major issues with it, not sure on that though.
I'm wondering if I do a minimum koh with lots of meth that that might move this batch on a bit.
I got 35 ltrs of glyc from stage 1 from a 180ltr batch so I must(should?) Have had a reaction! 90/10 shows 20% conversion, the 'bio' sample looks like warm oil, quite thick.
I'm worried that if I add anymore chems it'll end up like the batch before this one and become a soapy unconverted mess, that batch has been put to one side for now in the hope I can rescue it later on.

30

Chatter / Re: Meth

« Last post by dgs on July 02, 2025, 08:56:39 AM »

Ah, so it was you on facebook. I used to prefer the reclaimed from Trinity as even though the yield was slightly down the price advantage was massive. I have virgin stuff here but I'm sure you don't want to travel to York to collect it.