Interesting....how low can you go with ambient processing? I made a batch yesterday @40c using NaOH for stage 1 and ASM for stage 2. Mixed the whole lot for about an hour.
Nige, there doesn't seem to be a lower limit as regards processing temperature. I've reacted outside at this time of year in cubies at no more than 5degs, it works fine. The glyc just takes longer to drop.
Re your eductor; Jim is the expert but this is just what I have found. I used to use a pump the same as yours, didn't realise how poor it was until I changed it for a puisi panther, so maybe if it will drive your eductor it will be an improvement. Trouble is with a really weak pump the eductor puts such a resistance on the delivery pressure it can almost be counter productive.
The tam120 is such a beast (1500w) and with an undrilled eductor the delivery pressure was 71psi, (sounded like a steam coffee maker) so on Jim's advise I drilled out the nozzle to 8.5mms which reduced the pressure to 31psi. Using Julians method I mix 4 times at only 2 mins per go every hour and this achieves the same conversion as pumping continuously for 1 hour.
I realise this seems strange but I think there is still a lot we still have to learn about efficient mixing. The cubie method that I described above is probably the strangest that outlines this mixing conundrum. 15 litres of oil in a cubie, 2.5 litres of methanol plus 150gms KOH. Hold the cubie horizontal, shake really hard from side to side for 10secs. Wait 15 mins and repeat the shaking, then repeat after another 15mins.
So a total of 30 seconds mixing. 10/90 after glyc has settled gives the same as if pumped for 1 hour. Probably something to do with the way its shaken, you can really smash the liquid from one end to the other. Who needs processors, pumps, eductors or temperature increase.
