Methanol quantity

[Bio-boy]

I have been using the No-titration method successfully for some time and I am about to up my batch sizes. As a consequence I will be requiring 96L of methanol for my first stage reaction. The whole idea of larger batches is to minimise the number of batches I require to make each year and free up my spare time. Therefore I'm considering simply using 4 carboys which is obviously 100L of methanol. What will the effect be of the additional 4L of Methanol or would it be negligible simply just additional cost. Will it increase soaps etc.?

[Tony]

Mostly it would just be additional cost, but sometimes too much methanol can stop glycerol from dropping out.

[Bio-boy]

Mostly it would just be additional cost, but sometimes too much methanol can stop glycerol from dropping out.

What %Methanol do you use to quantity of oil?

My batch size is 600L WVO so 4 additional litres I would have thought would make minimal difference.

[dgs]

You won't notice and difference with those amounts. Because methanol is the most expensive of our 2 chemicals, if you do a 2 stage reaction and don't reclaim the methanol you will notice a considerable saving if you intentionally starve the process  of methanol during the 1st stage.

Because of the process I use to glycerol pre-wash I have @ 20% conversion after this, then for the 1st 'normal' stage I use only @ 8.5% methanol and after this the 10/90 tube shows around the 1ml dropout.

[Jamesrl]

For a 600ltr batch first stage I wouldn't exceed 90ltr of methanol (15%) and repeat that percentage for the second stage.

I don't like to starve the reaction of methanol but I do reclaim meth which leaves me with a total usage of 10 - 12%, for a 600ltr batch I'd recover 18+ltr.

[Bio-boy]

For a 600ltr batch first stage I wouldn't exceed 90ltr of methanol (15%) and repeat that percentage for the second stage.

I don't like to starve the reaction of methanol but I do reclaim meth which leaves me with a total usage of 10 - 12%, for a 600ltr batch I'd recover 18+ltr.

I simply follow the No-Titration Calculator on this site which I think is 20% methanol. I don't have the facility for methanol recovery.
By dropping to 15% would you get less of a reaction during the first stage of the process? Do you stick to 15% for the 2nd stage too?

[Jamesrl]

I simply follow the No-Titration Calculator on this site which I think is 20% methanol. I don't have the facility for methanol recovery.
By dropping to 15% would you get less of a reaction during the first stage of the process? Do you stick to 15% for the 2nd stage too?

After a glyc wash I get 90%+ conversion and yes 15% on both stages. Without the wash it's 80% then a clear pass.

Some of the brethren are down to 12% on both stages but a good glyc wash is advisable before reacting.