Jelly batch help

[therecklessengineer]

I don't think it is meths remaining as I understand foaming is a sign that all the meth is out?

Some of the meth is out - enough to start the soap precipitating. What remains in solution is what causes the jelly. You're on the limit of what can stay in solution.

But of course, while it's jelly, it's more difficult to evaporate the remaining methanol resulting in a sort of catch-22.

[Dickjotec]

I will have an experiment on on of the cubies. A bubble for 24 hours with it warm and liquid should get any remaining meth out.

[julianf]

I have tried fully demething jelly (in a pan) and my findings were that the jelly reformed on cooling.

Hence, that it was *not* just the meth holding the suspension.

I then tried multiple heating / cooling cycles, without agitation, and that did not work either.

My best solution to date has been to can the product, forget about it, and then come back a long time later, when, eventually, about 2/3 seems to split to clear bio, leaving a layer at the base (which can go in with the glyc wash on a new batch)

[Dickjotec]

No problem to leave it but it is fascinating. In a test tube it looks clear but sets to a very weak jelly. If not handled gently it becomes liquid again. I have bubbled the first cubie out of processor all day and it seems very liquid. I have taken samples to see what happens overnight. It is still bubbling. The other cubies seem liquid but time will tell.
Out of interest I added miss fuel to a sample (well it stops gelling in winter!) no difference.
I will try mixing 50/50 with bio tomorrow and see if that makes any difference.
Will try heating to boil off any meth or water as well.

[Tony]

Well the previous solution to that has been to mix with glyc to slurp out the remaining water and then separate and demeth as per normal.

[therecklessengineer]

It would seem Julian and I disagree on this one.

I'll be interested to hear how your cubbie does.

[Dickjotec]

It frothed over well and, so far, a sample has not jelled but I won't know till tomorrow. Hope to have more time to play at the we. 60l back in processor with some good oil ready to process. Will do a glyc wash first then see how we go on a two stage. Heating up ATM.
Dick

[julianf]

It would seem Julian and I disagree on this one.

Disagree seems too strong a word!

I have no doubt in the slightest that you have had success with your method.
However, i tried it on my product, and did not meet with the same success.

No one method suits every situation - if it did, we would never even need to talk about Jelly in the first place : )

[Dickjotec]

Unfortunately the only glyc I have got is from the jelly batch. I assume this will already be saturated? I can try a mini batch reintroducing the glyc if it is thought the glyc will be dry enough to suck any water out

[BANDIT2]

Dick, I can drop you off some glyc on my way to Cardiff on Sat morn if you want? no demeth or pre-wash water been near it.

[Dickjotec]

That's a kind offer but I have a plan. The glyc from the Sunday batch will give me some 'clean' glyc to try on the remaining jelly.
Have a good wild camp
Dick

[BassAddict]

Dick - just a thought.... was this a batch using the latest meth we purchased? I've not used mine yet but my next batch will and now I'm having nightmares about jelly!

[Dickjotec]

Yes it was but don't worry it is the third with that meth, the others were fine. It was caused by laziness on my part in not drying the oil properly. It was very grotty oil that I thought would be ok as I have never had jelly before.
Hope that puts your mind at rest.
Dick

[therecklessengineer]

Disagree seems too strong a word!

Yes, it does a little doesn't it. Maybe just that we've had differing experiences?