The lazyman process

[Tony]

Hehe, seems to be one I follow more often than not during the summer months

The excess catalyst process is this:

- dry oil very well (heat to 105C and use condenser)
- titrate
- mix Methoxide using 5% too much catalyst
- single stage (usually a clear pass due to catalyst overdose)
- Whole Batch Demeth
- no water prewashing!
- settle soap out

Sure there may be extra soaps but who cares when it's that easy?  I don't make jelly because there's no prewash water and I don't water wash so no emulsion to worry about either. And I've got enough feedstock that yeild isn't an issue (not that I've noticed a yeild reduction though).

[Tony]

Looking at: http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/Methoxide#A_note_on_soap

Does this also apply to excess NaOH?  So 40g NaOH extra => 320g soap produced by whatever the mechanism of interaction is between NaOH and triglycerides?

[K.H]

Heathen
Post it up on the VOD and see what happens

[Tony]

Did I mention that I stir it all in a bucket with an old paddle? Can tell when it's done because it tastes right.

[Keef]

Complicated that bio lark isn't it?

My "process" is: tip oil through bed sheet, put it in car.

If it buggers the car up, I'll buy another £400 one. Happy days 

[Tony]

Definitely the right attitude.  If you can get from A to B by whatever means costs the least then it's a win-win situation.

[kamaangir]

Complicated that bio lark isn't it?

My "process" is: tip oil through bed sheet, put it in car.

If it buggers the car up, I'll buy another £400 one. Happy days 

That's a bit posh innit? I just use a j cloth shaped like the inside of my funnel and stapled! hahahaha

[Tony]

This has got me wondering... if there is no water presumably you won't make soap (which is why we don't see jelly batches until prewash water has been added).  Since abandoning prewash, I've never had a jelly batch despite overdosing catalyst.

So I wonder what would happen with dry oil and a serious catalyst overdose (say, double that required).  Presumably the water in the Methoxide mix will get used up make soap - but this would happen anyway?

Catalyst use is one of the lowest cost parts of the whole conversion process, so in that respect no problems using a bit more for ease of use.

[julesandtash]

Why dont you give it a go and find out Tony - we promise not to laugh too loudly if you fill the processor with yellow yellow

[Tony]

Got some WVO up to 105C with plenty of time on the condenser so I think it's pretty dry.  Mixed Methoxide to titration amount plus 25% extra (on the total, not just titration) so we'll see how a single stage goes tomorrow.  Hopefully lazy days on getting a clear pass

[Tony]

So far so good, got 3/27 pass just demething now (WBD)

[Keef]

Prepare for plenty of rock solid glyc I reckon

[Tony]

Hehe we'll see - nearly up to 90C and still a little Meth coming out.  No sign of jelly/pump struggling noises - should be OK anyway unless water gets added.

Got a monster spider on the shed wall, I think he's keeping me company tonight!

[Julian]

Got a monster spider on the shed wall, I think he's keeping me company tonight!

I got lots of them.  I've even got a crane fly that's been through the Mono pump, loosing only one wing and two legs on the journey, who's now lodged in my transparent final filter.

Anyway I was thinking recently, people have been looking for Methanol alarms to test the shed atmosphere, but surely  the shed wildlife could be to a bio maker as a canary is to a miner.

[Keef]

I wouldn't bother using your little crane fly, they only live for two weeks anyway.

That could make you paranoid about meth levels.