Chemist's I need help.

[1958steveflying]

 Okay here goes.

If we start with a 200 litre batch of oil at 20c and complete the process of converting to Bio, what is the highest amount of Bio in litres we can expect to get in return measured at the same temperature ?

The Reason I ask is I see post's claiming higher than 100% yield, I cant get my head round if what we put into the process, (Meth and Lye) have to all come back out, and we also take Glycerol/soap out, then how can we end up with more than we started with measured at the same temperature ?

[Carrington]

Hi Steve
Most of the methanol (about 12% ) we put into the batch gets used by being attached to the fatty acid to create  fatty acid methyl Ester (fame / biodiesel).
So going on tha theory 12% more bio than oil but the meth molecule is much smaller than the glycerine one it replaces so probably much less than 12%

I'm sure I  would get about 105% return if I used ASM but I was told I was probably doing something wrong and leaving loads of meth in.


Paul

[1958steveflying]

Hi Steve
Most of the methanol (about 12% ) we put into the batch gets used by being attached to the fatty acid to create  fatty acid methyl Ester (fame / biodiesel).
So going on tha theory 12% more bio than oil but the meth molecule is much smaller than the glycerine one it replaces so probably much less than 12%

I'm sure I  would get about 105% return if I used ASM but I was told I was probably doing something wrong and leaving loads of meth in.


Paul

I used to think I got at least 100% yield and sometimes more but I never accurately measured what quantity of Glyc and Methanol I took out at the same temperature as I put it in. Or even accurately measured the amount of Bio I ended up with After settling or washing. This was further complicated by Glyc washing which we know often transfers some settled Bio from the glyc into the equation.

So I wondered if it could be shown to me in a chemical explanation as to why we should get X percentage more Bio out than we put in Raw oil.