Difference between revisions of "Biodiesel process guide"

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I have been asked by fellow member of the forum to creat my suggested
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<metadesc>A quick guide to the biodiesel production process</metadesc>
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This is a fast guide to the steps involved in making biodiesel according to the simplest process.
  
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fast track guide to making biodiesel
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__TOC__
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in advance i appologise for my spelling, this is the brief guid to making Biodiesel start to finish
 
  
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there are different methods and adaptions of this method you can use along the way
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==Process overview==
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but for me this is by far the easiest and most affective
 
  
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im new to wiki and forum editing so please bare with me,
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This diagram shows the popular methods employed by brewers to produce biodiesel from used vegetable oil. Which parts of the process are followed come down to personal choice.  The simplest path is detailed on this page.
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I hope to hyper link each task in the process to the page on here which goes into more detail,
 
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on the specific science of that task.
 
  
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Bio making can be quite time consuming but it helps if you can multi task, IE titrate whilst your oil is warming or transfering.
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[[File:Process_flowchart_01.png|800px]]
  
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__TOC__
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==Pre-process==
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===Dewatering===
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# Raise oil temp to at least 60°C and allow to stand for at least one hour, over night is better
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# Drop a few litres from the bottom, taking away any water that has settled
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# Take a sample for titration
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# If necessary, transfer the oil to your processor
  
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==Dewatering==
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==Process==
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# Dewater your oil - raise oil temp to at least 60 degrees C and allow to stand for at least one hour, over night is better.
 
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# Take a sample for titration (from the top, more than 1ml)
 
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# Transfer the oil to your processor
 
  
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==Titration==
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===[[Titration]]===
 
# Add 10ml of IPA to a beaker
 
# Add 10ml of IPA to a beaker
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# Add a few drops of Phenalphaline
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# Add a few drops of phenolphthalein or tumeric indicator solution
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# With a syringe draw a little of your [[Titration#Reference_solution|titration solution]], and add dropwise to your beaker until your solution turns purple and stays purple for approximatley 30 seconds.  This is known as blanking, so you know you're at neutral pH.
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# With a syringe draw a little of your [[Titration#Reference_solution|titration solution]], and add dropwise to your beaker until your solution turns purple and stays purple for approximately 30 seconds.  This is known as blanking, to get the IPA to neutral pH.
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# Add 1ml of your oil sample you drew from step 2 and swirl - the solution will turn a yellowy white
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# Add 1ml of the oil sample drawn after dewatering and swirl - the solution will turn a yellow/white
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# Fill a 1 ml syringe with 1 ml of your [[Titration#Reference_solution|titration solution]] and add drop wise to your beaker swirling constantley, you are trying to find the point as where the solution goes and stays purple for 30 seconds again, it may take several fills of the syringe with your titrant.
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# Fill a 1ml syringe with your [[Titration#Reference_solution|titration solution]] and add drop wise to your beaker, swirling constantly. You are trying to find the point where the solution goes and stays purple for 30 seconds.
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# once a purple colour has been reached and stay contant for 30 seconds you need to count the amount of titrant you have used.
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# Work out the amount of titrant you have used. 1.4ml of titration solution = titration value of 1.4.  Repeat this step if necessary to get an accurate value.
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For example from blanking 1 ml oil is added and you add 1 whole syringe of titrant and then 0.4 mls of the second fill
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# Heat your oil to 55°C and turn off heater (make sure your pump is on and circulating)
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your titration would be 1.4 this is very important write this down
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# now we know your titration we need to add this figure to your base i use 5.5
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===Mix [[methoxide]]===
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so we add these together 1.4+5.5= 6.9 this figure is the amount of sodium hydroxide you need to add '''per litre of oil you are going to process'''
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# Add the titration figure to your base. Most [[sodium hydroxide]] users use a base of 5.0g/l. In this example, 1.4 + 5.0 = 6.4g/l. This figure is the amount of sodium hydroxide needed '''per litre of oil you are going to process''' ([[potassium hydroxide]] users use a base of 7.0g/l, 1.4 + 7.0 = 8.4g/l)
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# Heat your oil ready for process to 55 degrees C and turn off heater (make sure your pump is on and circulating)
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# Measure out the sodium or potassium hydroxide
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# Measure out the methanol (20% of the oil volume)
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# Mix the methanol and sodium or potassium hydroxide to make methoxide
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===Mix methoxide and oil===
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# Inject methoxide via venturi or suck in via pump input
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# Process - allow to mix for one hour
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# Take a sample for the 3/27 or 5/45 conversion test and allow to sit for 10 minutes
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===[[5/45 test]] (upscaled 3/27 test)===
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# Add 45mls of methanol to a suitable container
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# Add 5mls of biodiesel from the top of your settled sample
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# Tightly close the lid and shake for 10-15 seconds (for accurate results your methanol should be at 20°C)
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# Allow to stand for 5-10 minutes
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# Pass => transparent solution, fail => fall out/seperation of liquids (more mixing required)
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==Post-process==
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===Drain [[glycerol]]===
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# Turn off all pumps and settle for at least one hour.
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# Drain glycerol slowly into suitable container - Glycerol is black and thick, when the lighter Biodiesel starts to flow out stop draining.
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===Finishing===
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Choose one of:
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====Finishing - [[Processor - with methanol condenser (GL design)|GL processors]]====
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# Condense excess methanol off from biodiesel
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# Pump out to settle drum and stand, soaps to settle out naturally. This can take anything from a few hours to a few days depending on how well the biodiesel is demethed
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====Finishing - Non-GL processors (waterless)====
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# Pump out to settle drum
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# Air bubble biodiesel while still hot to drive off excess methanol - this should be done in a well ventilated environment
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# Stand for soaps to settle out naturally. This can take anything from a few hours to a few days depending on how well the biodiesel is demethed
  
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==Process==
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====Finishing - [[Water washing]]====
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# Mix methoxide (whilst heating oil)
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# Water wash in processor or seperate water wash drum, which will remove both excess methanol and soap
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# Inject methoxide via a venturi
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# [[Drying_wet_biodiesel|Dry the wet biodiesel]]
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# Process allow to mix for one hour
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# Take a sample for 3/27 or 5/45 and allow to sit for 10 minutes
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==[[Soap tests]]==
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===5/45 test===  
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# Fill a clean jam jar half full with a sample of your biodiesel and add the same amount of water
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# add 45mls of methanol to a suitable containor
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# Shake well, and allow to stand for approximately five minutes
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# add 5mls of biodiesel from the top of your settled sample taken in step 9
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# Pass => water at the bottom of your sample is clear, fail => creamy water
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# tightly close the lid and shake for 10-15 seconds for an accurate test your methanol should be at 20 degrees C
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# Pass your fuel through at a 5 micron filter or smaller before putting into the car
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# allow to stand for 5-10 minutes
 
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what you are looking for is the solution to become transparent and to be constant through out and no fall out/seperation of liquids
 
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if you have oil in the bottom of the vessel the reaction is not yet complete often more mixing will solve this.
 
  
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==Drain Glycerol==
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==See also==
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# Settle (turn off all the pumps) transfer to settling tank if applicable.
 
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Stand for at least one hour
 
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# Drain Glycerine (slowly open your drain valve and drian the glycorine to a suitable vessle glycerine is black and thick when the lighter biodiesel starts to flow out shut off valve).
 
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# Transfer biodiesel to demeth and settle tank.
 
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# Bubble over night (i use a large koi pond air pump with 2 ceramic air stones in a sealed drum with a 32mm pipe throught he wall please make sure this is done in a well ventalated area)
 
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# Settle out soap, turn off the air pump and allow to settle naturaly for approximatley 1 week#
 
  
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==Soap test==
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* [[MSDS - Biodiesel ]]
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# Fill a jar pickle,jam what ever you choose just under half full with a sample of your biodiesel add about the same off water give three solid shakes, and allow to stand for approximatley 5 minutes. If, when settled, the water on the bottom of your sample is clear your good to go simply pass your fuel through at least a 5 micron filter and fill your car!
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* [[MSDS - Glycerol ]]
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remembering that winter time your fuel will need winterising
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* [[MSDS - Methanol ]]
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* [[MSDS - Potassium Hydroxide ]]
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* [[MSDS - Sodium Hydroxide ]]
  
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More work to be done on this page :)
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[[Category:Biodiesel]]
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[[Category:Processing methods]]

Latest revision as of 07:49, 22 July 2015

This is a fast guide to the steps involved in making biodiesel according to the simplest process.

Process overview

This diagram shows the popular methods employed by brewers to produce biodiesel from used vegetable oil. Which parts of the process are followed come down to personal choice. The simplest path is detailed on this page.

Process flowchart 01.png

Pre-process

Dewatering

  1. Raise oil temp to at least 60°C and allow to stand for at least one hour, over night is better
  2. Drop a few litres from the bottom, taking away any water that has settled
  3. Take a sample for titration
  4. If necessary, transfer the oil to your processor

Process

Titration

  1. Add 10ml of IPA to a beaker
  2. Add a few drops of phenolphthalein or tumeric indicator solution
  3. With a syringe draw a little of your titration solution, and add dropwise to your beaker until your solution turns purple and stays purple for approximately 30 seconds. This is known as blanking, to get the IPA to neutral pH.
  4. Add 1ml of the oil sample drawn after dewatering and swirl - the solution will turn a yellow/white
  5. Fill a 1ml syringe with your titration solution and add drop wise to your beaker, swirling constantly. You are trying to find the point where the solution goes and stays purple for 30 seconds.
  6. Work out the amount of titrant you have used. 1.4ml of titration solution = titration value of 1.4. Repeat this step if necessary to get an accurate value.
  7. Heat your oil to 55°C and turn off heater (make sure your pump is on and circulating)

Mix methoxide

  1. Add the titration figure to your base. Most sodium hydroxide users use a base of 5.0g/l. In this example, 1.4 + 5.0 = 6.4g/l. This figure is the amount of sodium hydroxide needed per litre of oil you are going to process (potassium hydroxide users use a base of 7.0g/l, 1.4 + 7.0 = 8.4g/l)
  2. Measure out the sodium or potassium hydroxide
  3. Measure out the methanol (20% of the oil volume)
  4. Mix the methanol and sodium or potassium hydroxide to make methoxide

Mix methoxide and oil

  1. Inject methoxide via venturi or suck in via pump input
  2. Process - allow to mix for one hour
  3. Take a sample for the 3/27 or 5/45 conversion test and allow to sit for 10 minutes

5/45 test (upscaled 3/27 test)

  1. Add 45mls of methanol to a suitable container
  2. Add 5mls of biodiesel from the top of your settled sample
  3. Tightly close the lid and shake for 10-15 seconds (for accurate results your methanol should be at 20°C)
  4. Allow to stand for 5-10 minutes
  5. Pass => transparent solution, fail => fall out/seperation of liquids (more mixing required)

Post-process

Drain glycerol

  1. Turn off all pumps and settle for at least one hour.
  2. Drain glycerol slowly into suitable container - Glycerol is black and thick, when the lighter Biodiesel starts to flow out stop draining.

Finishing

Choose one of:

Finishing - GL processors

  1. Condense excess methanol off from biodiesel
  2. Pump out to settle drum and stand, soaps to settle out naturally. This can take anything from a few hours to a few days depending on how well the biodiesel is demethed

Finishing - Non-GL processors (waterless)

  1. Pump out to settle drum
  2. Air bubble biodiesel while still hot to drive off excess methanol - this should be done in a well ventilated environment
  3. Stand for soaps to settle out naturally. This can take anything from a few hours to a few days depending on how well the biodiesel is demethed

Finishing - Water washing

  1. Water wash in processor or seperate water wash drum, which will remove both excess methanol and soap
  2. Dry the wet biodiesel

Soap tests

  1. Fill a clean jam jar half full with a sample of your biodiesel and add the same amount of water
  2. Shake well, and allow to stand for approximately five minutes
  3. Pass => water at the bottom of your sample is clear, fail => creamy water
  4. Pass your fuel through at a 5 micron filter or smaller before putting into the car

See also

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