Beef tallow.

[Oilybloke]

I have recently started collecting from a chippy that uses beef tallow. I have yet to process any, but wondered if anybody else has? Any pitfalls?

[julianf]

Ive got 300+ ltrs in the reactor at the moment, and another 400 in the preheat containers.

Its hard fat.  Palm will go to slush on a hot day - no chance with tallow - you always need to pre-heat it or dig it out of the drums.  I use a shovel, and i wouldnt waste my time in winter.

You also need to blend it in anything but proper hot weather.  Ive been running on a blend for about the past 4 weeks, but even then we had one incident with the fuel filter.


You need to watch out for pipework setting when settling.  When i rebuild my unit, ill have drains so as i can drain the whole lot down when i want to.

You also need to be very careful about the whole lot setting in the reactor.


Basically, its hassel - much more hassle than palm / prep etc.  But i get 100s of litres of it for free, so, for me, its worth the mods to the reactor / process.

[julianf]

ps

melting point of its methyl ester is quoted on JTF to be about 15 or 16c.  Ive found it maybe to be a couple of degrees lower (13 ish?) but, if its in your tank, you need to be watch for those night time temps too!

[julianf]

one last thing -

your settling drum cant fall below 13c ish either.

[Head Womble]

I found it also eats heater elements, I popped a couple when reacting tallow.

[julianf]

....and another thing -

The 90/10 test (etc) is always said to be done at 25c.  If you try doing it with a tallow brew, you need to go above this temp, else the tallow component will just go hard as soon as it hits the meth.

[nigelb]

....and another thing -

The 90/10 test (etc) is always said to be done at 25c.  If you try doing it with a tallow brew, you need to go above this temp, else the tallow component will just go hard as soon as it hits the meth.

The 90/10 is supposed to done at 20°C not 25°C.

[Oilybloke]

Many thanks guys, all comments are appreciated.