Current best practice with ASM

[Chug]

I'm gonna be helping Chunder with his first batch of bio and he wants to use ASM.

So are the current figures on the wiki page what most peeps are using for calculating their amounts for 2 stage?

Ie. (batch size x 4) x 5

So for 150 litre batch = 3000ml ASM mixed into 12% methanol?

http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/Processing_with_anhydrous_sodium_methylate

[RichardP]

It's a good starting point and you and Chunder shouldn't go far wrong using them. It's one of those things you can adjust according to the quality of the the oil. I started using a base of 4 and have found the best for me is 1st stage at 2.5 then2nd stage using 4.

[Jamesrl]

I use a base of 3 for both stages.

I start with the ASM 3 x 5 x 150 = 2250ml.

Then add methanol to total 15% of batch size,  so I'd put 20ltr in with the ASM.

BTW I never inject the methoxide under 64c, I like it 'ot.

[Chug]

Cheers chaps, going on this then, maybe the wiki page should be edited, what do folks think?

[Julian]

I've recently gone back to NaOH, but when I was using ASM I used a base of 3.5 -4 and never bothered to titrate.  With frequent sampling I used to add methoxide until I got a gel to form and noted a temperature rise.  At this point I assumed the bulk of the reaction was taking place following which the samples would go quite clear.

Adding a little more methoxide would start to make glycerine drop and that point I would consider my first stage complete.  Second stage would be adding just a little more methoxide until I got a clear 3/27.  It was quite time consuming, but resulted in a very low soap level which was neutralised with minimal acid before a couple of pump washes.

Worked well for me but as Chunder is just starting out, sticking to known values might be best until he has a few batches under his belt.

I thought the wiki page had been modified to suggest a base of 4 from an initial recommendation of 5.  It could perhaps be modified to suggest a slightly lower level, but I think we should err on the safe side.  Personally I wouldn't suggest too lower base without a lot more people confirming successful and consistent conversions.

[Chug]

Good point Julian, lets wait and see what Nigel and the rest of the asm converts have to say, I've just ordered a bag of NaOH meself coz I'm skint, but I'm gonna borrow a bit of asm from chundy when he gets some and when we do his first batch so I can have a play with it.

[Julian]

One of the differences you'll notice is yield.  Using NaOH I recon I'm down about 3-5 ltrs on an 80 ltr batch.

[Jamesrl]

without a lot more people confirming successful and consistent conversions.

I'd like to confirm that my conversions are consistently consistent with crystal clear 10/90 on every batch, I will accept nothing less.

[Jamesrl]

One of the differences you'll notice is yield.  Using NaOH I recon I'm down about 3-5 ltrs on an 80 ltr batch.

Thats down to the water created when mixing NaOH methanol.

You generate more soap.

[willbuild]

One of the differences you'll notice is yield.  Using NaOH I recon I'm down about 3-5 ltrs on an 80 ltr batch.

Thats down to the water created when mixing NaOH methanol.

You generate more soap.

Thats 5% roughly, Am surprised its as much as that.

[Jamesrl]

Thats 5% roughly, Am surprised its as much as that.

That's about right.

[willbuild]

I got 20kgs of Nah and 20 of potassium. anyone need any in cardiff area?
would like to try asm method.

[nigelb]

I got 20kgs of Nah and 20 of potassium. anyone need any in cardiff area?
would like to try asm method.

It's a shame you didn't shout up a few weeks back when i was running a few errands in the south Wales area.

[Chug]

c'mon nige now you finally got on the thread and all we get is smalltalk, what about the asm amounts?

[Jamesrl]

c'mon nige now you finally got on the thread and all we get is smalltalk, what about the asm amounts?

He prolly don't use it Chug, just retails the stuff.