Not seen this with titrated acid wash before.

[nigelb]

Julian...you mentioned that you didn't have any lab grade filter papers. I can help you on that score. If you wish I could send to you some papers I have here. Let me know.

Nige

[nigelb]

As promised...a photo similar to the issues you're having Julian. This shows an intersection between the glyc layer and the raw bio above. Bare in mind this is not the true percentage of split. It was taken after a perfect 5/45 using ASM followed by a 7% post reaction water wash (no acid). As the glyc was drained down there is a distinct colour change followed by the bio. This stuff was dropped into a 5lt jug with bio when the glyc stopped. I don't have a clue what it is....but it's always there.

[Julian]

Nige, Kind offer, but I only use them once in a blue moon.  If you are massively overstocked and remember them at the BBB, I'll cook you a horse burger!

I have to say your gunk loos quite similar to mine, but I can't say I've seen it at that stage of the process.  Have you ever tried isolating and drying it, if so what colour was it?

I have to say I'm wondering more and more if this stuff isn't very fine BCBs with a density that prevents them being taken out with the glycerine.  It could simply be a result of what's been cooking in the oil or perhaps the oil being taken over temperature.

[nigelb]

I may be barking up the wrong tree here but as the 3/27 is scaled down from the original 25/225 it may not have sufficient quantities of meth and bio to be accurate.

 ie: maybe a clear 3/27 could have  either a cloudy 25/225 or even dropout !

I've just been reading the thread in its entirety again and what Steve says here has some validity. I stepped up from 27/3 to 45/5 and then to 90/10 and saw a huge difference in the way the drop out was measured. I use to use a 10ml measuring cylinder from Vince for transfering across any drop out to be calculated. Even though great care was taken in the transfer the difference in side by side comparisons with Nathans glass wear and then with Uberveg's was huge. I'm sure if it scaled up again it would show up even greater discrepancies.

[nigelb]

Nige, Kind offer, but I only use them once in a blue moon.  If you are massively overstocked and remember them at the BBB, I'll cook you a horse burger!

I have to say your gunk loos quite similar to mine, but I can't say I've seen it at that stage of the process.  Have you ever tried isolating and drying it, if so what colour was it?

I have to say I'm wondering more and more if this stuff isn't very fine BCBs with a density that prevents them being taken out with the glycerine.  It could simply be a result of what's been cooking in the oil or perhaps the oil being taken over temperature.

I'll put the filters on my list of stuff to bring and give away. To be honest I hardly ever use them.

When you drop the glycerine from the processor does it only have two layers...the bio and the glyc?

Strange that we see the same....or what looks to be the same...thing, but at different parts of the process!

[1958steveflying]

Nige, Kind offer, but I only use them once in a blue moon.  If you are massively overstocked and remember them at the BBB, I'll cook you a horse burger!

I have to say your gunk loos quite similar to mine, but I can't say I've seen it at that stage of the process.  Have you ever tried isolating and drying it, if so what colour was it?

I have to say I'm wondering more and more if this stuff isn't very fine BCBs with a density that prevents them being taken out with the glycerine.  It could simply be a result of what's been cooking in the oil or perhaps the oil being taken over temperature.

I'll put the filters on my list of stuff to bring and give away. To be honest I hardly ever use them.

When you drop the glycerine from the processor does it only have two layers...the bio and the glyc?

Strange that we see the same....or what looks to be the same...thing, but at different parts of the process!

My guess is you see it Nige due to the 7% water prewash you do.

[Julian]

I may be barking up the wrong tree here but as the 3/27 is scaled down from the original 25/225 it may not have sufficient quantities of meth and bio to be accurate.

 ie: maybe a clear 3/27 could have  either a cloudy 25/225 or even dropout !

I've just been reading the thread in its entirety again and what Steve says here has some validity. I stepped up from 27/3 to 45/5 and then to 90/10 and saw a huge difference in the way the drop out was measured. I use to use a 10ml measuring cylinder from Vince for transfering across any drop out to be calculated. Even though great care was taken in the transfer the difference in side by side comparisons with Nathans glass wear and then with Uberveg's was huge. I'm sure if it scaled up again it would show up even greater discrepancies.

The point I was commenting on was the cloudiness.  It's obvious that larger volumes will show greater drop out (if there is any)  but the cloudiness (opacity if you like) of the methanol (assuming it is) will remain the same.

[Julian]

Nige, Kind offer, but I only use them once in a blue moon.  If you are massively overstocked and remember them at the BBB, I'll cook you a horse burger!

I have to say your gunk loos quite similar to mine, but I can't say I've seen it at that stage of the process.  Have you ever tried isolating and drying it, if so what colour was it?

I have to say I'm wondering more and more if this stuff isn't very fine BCBs with a density that prevents them being taken out with the glycerine.  It could simply be a result of what's been cooking in the oil or perhaps the oil being taken over temperature.

I'll put the filters on my list of stuff to bring and give away. To be honest I hardly ever use them.

When you drop the glycerine from the processor does it only have two layers...the bio and the glyc?

Strange that we see the same....or what looks to be the same...thing, but at different parts of the process!

I've learnt that the only certain thing about making bio is that you can never be certain about anything.

Can't really be certain we're seeing the same thing. I recon I got about 2-3 litres of the stuff out of 80 ltrs of oil.

I've never noticed it between the glycerine and bio and these days I drain into a tub of shavings, several times and leave it overnight, to enable the acid wash.

[nigelb]

My guess is you see it Nige due to the 7% water prewash you do.

So what do you think it is and what do think brings it on?

[Head Womble]

I have seen this type of layer in my gly if it has water in it, but it's once it's settled for a week or more.

But I've never seen it when draining from the reactor.

[1958steveflying]

My guess is you see it Nige due to the 7% water prewash you do.

So what do you think it is and what do think brings it on?

I have no idea what it is but think it is the water that brings it out, I seem to recall something very much like it way back when I did the 7% prewash prior to demething/drying and settling.