I have (substantial) quantities of tallow and HVO to process now that the summer is here.......
My first try with HVO was pretty good but with a good 10% dropping out as sludge in the settling tank. I have been boning up on an acid & meth reaction prior to the normal methoxide reaction and wondered what the thoughts might be on this. I have searched the wiki for information, to no avail.
I have copied this from another site:
Source Oil - Can include animal and solid fats and oil with high FFA and resulting high titration values
Strain Oil to 400 Microns
Heat Oil to 100°c and bubble dry until no more steam evaporates and Oil is clear - VITALLY IMPORTANT
Allow oil to cool to 55°c and maintain 55°c throughout Base stage - VITALLY IMPORTANT
Measure out Methanol equal to 17% of the volume of UCO - Example 100 Litres Oil = 17 Litres of Methanol
Measure out Sulphuric Acid, use 1.5ml per 1L of UCO, Example 100 Litres of UCO = 150 ml of Sulphuric Acid required), add the Suplhuric Acid to the methanol, and then add the mixture to the Oil
Mix everything together for 2 hours @ 55-60°c
Leave overnight to cool for 12 hours, or for best results, 24 hours, the longer it is left the lower the Titration will drop (to its theoretical minimum titration)
Drain / jug-out any heavy sludge and glycerol that has settled to the bottom, to avoid blockages later on
Heat Oil to 55°c
Titration Test of Oil
Prepare Methoxide, calculating KOH and Methanol based on the original volume of UCO in the tank, LESS any litres of glycerol that have been drained, and using 3% methanol by volume of the original amount of UCO - Example 100 Litres of UCO = 3 Litres of Methanol, PLUS enough methanol to make this sufficient to dissolve the required mount of KOH in, we recommend around 3-4L of methanol to dissolve 1-1.5kg of KOH in to. Dont worry that the Methanol volume is a little un-scientific, remember it is only important to add "enough" methanol, it doesnt matter if you add a little too much, too much is better than too little.
Add Methoxide to Oil
Mix Methoxide with Oil (@1 Hour)
Settle Glycerol (@15 Mins)
Drain off Glycerol
Check PH using Bromothymol Blue or PH Paper, PH 7 is required. If PH is not 7, wash with plain water, or water containing Acetic Acid to correct PH
Perform 3/27 Test to determine if any Triglycerides (unreacted vegetable oil) remains in the biodesel. If they do, then follow "Re-Processing" instructions below.
If PH 7, Wash Bio Diesel with Water or Dry Wash Media
If washed with Water, Heat Oil to 80-100°c, and Bubble Dry until no more vapor , Maintain 80-100°c throughout
Test Bio Diesel Quality
Filter Bio Diesel
Mix In Performance Additives (Optional)
All I have to do now is work out how to get 750 litres of beef tallow out of 20 ltr drums (IBC heater jacket maybe?)........
