Something new for me!

[nigelb]

In the interest of shed science I thought I’d try a modified approach to glyc washing in today’s batch.

As part of the process I have to warm up my glyc on the turk to get it from its gloopy stage to something that will go through the pump without too much strain being put on it.

I do two glyc washes…the first with some old pre-used glyc from two batches previous. While this is mixing I warm up the stage 1 glyc from the last batch.
As I’ve never seen any sort of conversion from employing glyc washes I thought I’d give it a “kick start!” I mixed up 150gms of Sodium Hydroxide in 1lt of methanol and when dissolved I added it to the glyc which was still warming on the turk. It seemed to blend in nicely with a stir of a stick and left it alone while I dropped the first glyc wash from the reactor.

When I returned to the turk there was a thick layer of coagulated mush sitting on top. It seems as though the NaOH had separated out….or more to the point never actually blended in with the glyc. Some of this catalyst may have blended so I think it’s worth a quick test to see if there is any conversion.
I’m pleased that I didn’t add the methoxide to the reactor via the venturi…(though I’m sure there are one or two who wished I had)… as it could have made a real mess in there.

[Rotary-Motion]

we have to try these things nige, its always a learning curve for better or worse.

we all love abit of shed science keeps us busy....

[greasemonkey]

Thinking about this. The methoxide reacts with the esther, and displaces the glyc molecule, ya? If it tried to bond with the glyc molecule, the process wouldn't work. It's natural inclination is to repel the glyc molecule.
Does that make any sense?

[nigelb]

I'm not sure what you're saying there GM...I'm sure some do, but not me.

As an aside to this the 10/90 showed no sign of conversion...again!

I used 2.8lts of ASM and 19lts of methanol for stage 1. I went to Kirby club (the venue of our 25th) to watch Leicester play Burnley for a couple of hours and left the pump running. On returning the 10/90 of stage 1 showed a cloudy pass....happy with that. Although I've just added another 100ml of ASM to get clear pass. Mixing as I write..

[nigelb]

we have to try these things nige, its always a learning curve for better or worse.

we all love abit of shed science keeps us busy....

I agree with you there FS. It pisses me off when those with shed science ideas post them up without trying them first. No good chewing the fat over the fence if there's no substance behind it.

Good or bad...try it and post it. You know what I mean.