Biodiesel process guide

This is a fast reminder of the steps involved in making Biodiesel.

Dewatering

1. Dewater your oil - raise oil temp to at least 60 degrees C and allow to stand for at least one hour, over night is better
2. After standing, drop a few litres from the bottom,taking away any water that has settle
3. Take a sample for titration (from the top, more than 1ml)
4. If necessary, transfer the oil to your processor

Titration

1. Add 10ml of IPA to a beaker
2. Add a few drops of Phenalphaline or Tumeric indicator solution
3. With a syringe draw a little of your titration solution, and add dropwise to your beaker until your solution turns purple and stays purple for approximatley 30 seconds. This is known as blanking, to get the IPA to neutral pH.
4. Add 1ml of your oil sample you drew after dewatering and swirl - the solution will turn a yellowy white
5. Fill a 10 ml syringe with your titration solution and add drop wise to your beaker swirling constantly, you are trying to find the point where the solution goes and stays purple for 30 seconds.
6. Work out the amount of titrant you have used. 1.4ml of titration solution = titration value of 1.4. Repeat this step if necessary to get an accurate value.
7. Add this figure to your base. Most Sodium hydroxide users use a base of 5.0. In this example, 1.4 + 5.0 = 6.4. This figure is the amount of Sodium Hydroxide needed per litre of oil you are going to process
8. Mix this with Methanol, 22% by volume of oil to be processed.
9. Heat your oil to 55C and turn off heater (make sure your pump is on and circulating)

Process

1. Inject methoxide via a venturi or suck in via pump
2. Process - allow to mix for one hour
3. Take a sample for 3/27 or 5/45 and allow to sit for 10 minutes

5/45 test

1. Add 45mls of methanol to a suitable container
2. Add 5mls of biodiesel from the top of your settled sample
3. Tightly close the lid and shake for 10-15 seconds (for accurate results your Methanol should be at 20C)
4. Allow to stand for 5-10 minutes
5. Pass = solution transparent, fail = fall out/seperation of liquids (more mixing required)

Drain Glycerol

1. Settle (turn off all the pumps) for at least one hour.
2. Drain Glycerol slowly into suitable container - Glycerol is black and thick, when the lighter Biodiesel starts to flow out stop draining.
3. Transfer biodiesel to demeth and settle tank.
4. Air bubble over night in a well ventilated area.
5. Turn off the air pump and allow the soaps to settle out naturally for approximatley 1 week

Soap test

1. Fill a jar pickle,jam what ever you choose just under half full with a sample of your biodiesel add about the same off water give three solid shakes, and allow to stand for approximatley 5 minutes. If, when settled, the water on the bottom of your sample is clear your good to go simply pass your fuel through at least a 5 micron filter and fill your car!

remembering that winter time your fuel will need winterising

More work to be done on this page :)