My first ASM

[therecklessengineer]

It worked!

No titration, 2 stage, 150 litre batch.

1st stage: 12.5% MeOH (18 litres) and a value of 6 x (5 x 150) = 3000mL ASM.

1.2ml dropout on the first 3/27.

2nd stage: 1200mL ASM and 10L MeOH (wasn't convinced by the low 12.5% value so overdid it a little).

Perfect 3/27 pass, 5L MeOH recovered from the bio alone.


What really surprised me though - my oil is normally pretty poor quality and I normally generate quite a lot of glycerol. Normally about 30L, but I've had more than 40 with particularly difficult batches.

About 18L with this lot of ASM - and didn't even bother to remove the methanol.

[therecklessengineer]

And I really ought to say a massive thanks to NigeB for supplying the stuff and to Julesntash for delivering it!

[Jamesrl]

The equivalent of 6g/lt for a first stage, you're oil must be really bad.

I would advise a 10/90 rather than a 3/27 for measuring drop out.

I'm using 3.75g/lt and an getting 80%+ conversion.

Try 15% methanol next time, I reckon the stage stalls resulting in a low conversion rate.

BTW the 15% meth includes the ASM measure as part of it, NOT additional to.

[nigelb]

What James has done is not 6gm/lt...his maths is not stacking up. 6x (5 x 150) =4500ml of ASM. 3000ml works out at 4gm/lt. The same as my batch size.

I agree with you though Pops...the way forward for 2 staging is to use a 90/10.....get yourself some glass wear from Nathan or Uberveg.

Getting over a 1/3rd drop out is rather high...your veg must be well caned to get that sort of reaction.


This ASM stuff is really good though. If anybody wants any...give me a shout.

Nige

[therecklessengineer]

Oooops, typo. Yes, 4 x 5 x 150 = 3000mL

I do wonder if using only 18L of MeOH on the first stage stalled it rather than pushing to completion. I'll increase it next time.

[RichardP]

Oooops, typo. Yes, 4 x 5 x 150 = 3000mL

I do wonder if using only 18L of MeOH on the first stage stalled it rather than pushing to completion. I'll increase it next time.

18L of methanol plus the 3ltr of ASM should be plenty in the first stage without stalling and you should be getting at least 80% conversion from that.
How are you drying your oil? What pump are you using?

Dry your oil well then an hour glyc wash and see what happens. If your oil is a bit crappy then another hour or so doing this will make the world of difference without having to throw more chemicals at it.

[therecklessengineer]

18L of methanol plus the 3ltr of ASM should be plenty in the first stage without stalling and you should be getting at least 80% conversion from that.
How are you drying your oil? What pump are you using?

Dry your oil well then an hour glyc wash and see what happens. If your oil is a bit crappy then another hour or so doing this will make the world of difference without having to throw more chemicals at it.

Interesting.

My oil is heated to 110 degrees + forced air to dewater in a drying plant before being transferred to the processor.

The pump on the processor is a 100lpm twin stage three phase monstrosity.

I'll do a gylc wash next time - didn't this time as all my glyc is solid. I've now got some nice non-demethed glyc.

I need to do another batch tomorrow (need to get the stocks back up) so we'll see how that goes.

[Julian]

18L of methanol plus the 3ltr of ASM should be plenty in the first stage without stalling and you should be getting at least 80% conversion from that.
How are you drying your oil? What pump are you using?

Dry your oil well then an hour glyc wash and see what happens. If your oil is a bit crappy then another hour or so doing this will make the world of difference without having to throw more chemicals at it.

Interesting.

My oil is heated to 110 degrees + forced air to dewater in a drying plant before being transferred to the processor.

The pump on the processor is a 100lpm twin stage three phase monstrosity.

I'll do a gylc wash next time - didn't this time as all my glyc is solid. I've now got some nice non-demethed glyc.

I need to do another batch tomorrow (need to get the stocks back up) so we'll see how that goes.

Where you use forced air, do you find ambient humidity an issue?  I've recently had a couple of  batches where drying in that fashion appeared to be ineffective.

[therecklessengineer]

Where you use forced air, do you find ambient humidity an issue?  I've recently had a couple of  batches where drying in that fashion appeared to be ineffective.

Not if I get the oil hot enough. I did try a longer period at 60 degrees, but even after several hours it was still failing the HPT.

Never had a problem at 110.