newbie needs help please

[craig]

OK what did i do wrong

i have made several test batches all turn out the same.

titration =6 ml + base 3.5=9.5g per liter
methanol=20%=200ml per liter
heated oil to 55 degree C
MIXED WELL
left over night.
then  3/4 of it is biodiesel floating. with a solid lump at the bottom.
done 3/75 test = good diesel

i then reduced the sodium hydroxide still the same but the 3/75 test showed a very little oil.

[Tony]

Hi Craig, welcome to the forum.

I take it you are using Sodium Hydroxide rather than Potassium Hydroxide?

6 is a high titration for oil, and 3.5g is old-skool base (most people use 5g/l base for Sodium these days).

But anyway, it appears you have made bio - the solid lump at the bottom is to be expected with Sodium - that's the Glycerol that should be drained off while it's still hot and runny!

[Tony]

Also 3/75 is not the usual ratio for conversion testing, usually it's 1 part in 10, IE 3/27, 5/45, 10/90.

That you reduced the catalyst and still got good conversion suggests your titration is out (too high).

[craig]

great thanks
still learning 3/27 is what i meant.
will attempt another small batch soon.i want to get it right before i make a processor.
 any other helpful tips would be great
THANKS

[Rotary-Motion]

good to meet you craig

[Julian]

Welcome to the forum ... keep playing, it's the best way to learn!

I started out by doing loads of Dr Peppers, collecting them up and then sticking them in the car.

[Jamesrl]

Welcome to the forum ... keep playing, it's the best way to learn!

I started out by doing loads of Dr Peppers, collecting them up and then sticking them in the car.

Did you have to shove the bottles down the filler neck with a stick?

[Julian]

Welcome to the forum ... keep playing, it's the best way to learn!

I started out by doing loads of Dr Peppers, collecting them up and then sticking them in the car.

Did you have to shove the bottles down the filler neck with a stick?

Stupid boy!

Of course I didn't.  If you warm them up they become quite pliable so no need for the stick.

[Jamesrl]

Welcome to the forum ... keep playing, it's the best way to learn!

I started out by doing loads of Dr Peppers, collecting them up and then sticking them in the car.

Did you have to shove the bottles down the filler neck with a stick?

Stupid boy!


Of course I didn't.  If you warm them up they become quite pliable so no need for the stick.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, that's the trouble wiv bein' fik, l neva fort of that, 'ot bottles.

I bought a full bee hive once coz some one said me jam jar would run ok on bee pee.

[craig]

Glad I found this forum, seems like if i need some help a may get some answers.
like you say we all start somewhere.

I guess i took the long road - loads and loads of youtube vids and some American websites over the past 3 weeks.
hopefully i will get some good enough to run my motor.

also found that its not cost effective to use demijohns for test batches after a couple of inches of  Glycerol
sets in the bottom LOL.

  any chance i could steal some or most of the info on your website Julian for my own site.
I'm not near you so not a threat to your collections.

[Julian]

Welcome to the forum ... keep playing, it's the best way to learn!

I started out by doing loads of Dr Peppers, collecting them up and then sticking them in the car.

Did you have to shove the bottles down the filler neck with a stick?

Stupid boy!


Of course I didn't.  If you warm them up they become quite pliable so no need for the stick.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, that's the trouble wiv bein' fik, l neva fort of that, 'ot bottles.

I bought a full bee hive once coz some one said me jam jar would run ok on bee pee.

I'll have a pint of whatever your drinking.

[julesandtash]

I wonder if it is something Vince produced 

[Julian]

Glad I found this forum, seems like if i need some help a may get some answers.
like you say we all start somewhere.

I guess i took the long road - loads and loads of youtube vids and some American websites over the past 3 weeks.
hopefully i will get some good enough to run my motor.

also found that its not cost effective to use demijohns for test batches after a couple of inches of  Glycerol
sets in the bottom LOL.

  any chance i could steal some or most of the info on your website Julian for my own site.
I'm not near you so not a threat to your collections.

May be better to stick to the info on the wiki.  Many youtube videos offer information of dubious quality (witness Cragie in New Zeland!).  If stuff's not clear on the wiki, just ask on here.  It's good to get feed back from newcomers, having made bio for quite a while now we often take things for granted.

Re the website there are three Julians on here, but I assume you mean mine.  If so yes use what you like and thanks for asking ... many haven't.

The only thing I would ask is that it's not a carbon copy as Mr google won't like that and we'll both suffer.  Use the text but reword it a bit, change the layout and if you use any photos, give them different file names and Alt text etc.

[craig]

THANKS for the OK to steel parts of your website not started mine yet,
I will add a little about you (bit of extra SEO for you)

i still have problems with the washing=lot of soap and looks like orange juice
any good tips?

[nathanrobo]

THANKS for the OK to steel parts of your website not started mine yet,
I will add a little about you (bit of extra SEO for you)

i still have problems with the washing=lot of soap and looks like orange juice
any good tips?

Hi Craig... and welcome.

The orange juice is normal during washing, the longer you leave it to settle (also the more you wash it) the clearer it will get.  At the end of the process drying will give you perfectly clear fuel.

btw when you scale up consider dumping the titration (bit old school) and doing 2 stage no titration dosing - more accurate.  The titration of 6 was probably because you needed to blank your IPA.

Also there are a number of techniques for water washing - all well tested, one of them will suit your scaled up process and desired processing times.