Biopowered - vegetable oil and biodiesel forum

Biodiesel => Chemistry and process => Topic started by: willbuild on March 31, 2014, 09:00:52 AM

Title: vinegar in a bubble wash
Post by: willbuild on March 31, 2014, 09:00:52 AM
Would using  vinegar (1ltr vinegar and 9 of water for 100 l of bio) in my first bubble wash help reduce soaps?
Title: Re: vinegar in a bubble wash
Post by: Manfred on March 31, 2014, 11:50:42 AM
I can't see it reducing the soap amount  as that's what the water is for, to  wash out and drain away in the settled water, but it will allow a more vigorous wash before an emulsion forms as in the pump wash.
Title: Re: vinegar in a bubble wash
Post by: willbuild on March 31, 2014, 12:33:49 PM
So if i suspect that there is a high level of soaps in the batch,  vinegar would also  make it less likely to crate an emulsion in a bubble wash?
Title: Re: vinegar in a bubble wash
Post by: Julian on March 31, 2014, 03:38:01 PM
Soap is alkaline.  Acid is, errr ... acid and will neutralise the alkaline soap there by reducing it.

Adding acid will certainly reduce the likelyhood of an emulsion.  Have a look at the wiki page on titrated acid washing.  Can't remember if I added it, but Carrington came up with a rule of thumb method of calculating the quantity of acid without titration ... can't remember if I added that or not.
Title: Re: vinegar in a bubble wash
Post by: willbuild on March 31, 2014, 05:46:03 PM
I did read it over the weekend, thats why i asked. I had already done the 7% water wash and had moved the bio to bubble wash tank.
There was some mention of a rule of thumb method, i need to read it again. but will read again. ( at my age need to read a few times :))
Title: Re: vinegar in a bubble wash
Post by: willbuild on March 31, 2014, 05:53:13 PM
I think i read it in your orignal post's with Mr carrington
Title: Re: vinegar in a bubble wash
Post by: Julian on March 31, 2014, 06:03:54 PM
I had already done the 7% water wash and had moved the bio to bubble wash tank.

Count yourself lucky you're getting that far.  The last two batches, Frankenpump has produced a lovely emulsion for me to deal with.