Biopowered - vegetable oil and biodiesel forum

Biodiesel => Chemistry and process => Topic started by: Oilybloke on December 03, 2013, 05:22:24 PM

Title: Emulsion.
Post by: Oilybloke on December 03, 2013, 05:22:24 PM

Water washing & general slops/drainings mean that I have a quantity of lovely milky white emulsion with a thin layer of bio on top. Today, I brought this up to 65c and added some glyc to see if it would break the emulsion. It sort of did, inasmuch as I now have what looks like a glyc/bio mix, with the glyc not wanting to settle.

Any suggestions?

Cheers!

Title: Re: Emulsion.
Post by: RichardP on December 03, 2013, 08:32:42 PM

Acid will break it, but you'll need a fair bit now you've thrown in a load a glyc. Take a sample and test to see how much acid it'll take to fix it without overdoing it. The easiest way to break an emulsion is with heat and an acid, glyc may help on a light emulsion, but it's nowhere near as effective.

Title: Re: Emulsion.
Post by: db on December 10, 2013, 06:00:13 PM

Or just put it to one side for a month and it will settle even more and pour off the top layer.

Title: Re: Emulsion.
Post by: terryecosse on December 10, 2013, 07:17:11 PM

Try vinegar from asda nice and cheap, will break an emulsion.

Title: Re: Emulsion.
Post by: Oilybloke on December 11, 2013, 03:48:01 PM

Quote from: terryecosse on December 10, 2013, 07:17:11 PM

Try vinegar from asda nice and cheap, will break an emulsion.

I have heard about this........how much to use tho'? Just chuck in cupfuls 'til it breaks? At ambient or heated?