Glydust

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Crude glycerol can be mixed with sawdust, and packed into card formers (eg. sections of card tube from carpet fitters, right through to 'tetra pack' cartons).

In an effort to reduce both production labor, and residual ash, the card former has been omitted in the following method.

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Crude Glycerol Notes

Glycerol (C3H8O3) is only one of the constituents of our crude glycerol product. For example, glycerol itself will stay liquid at room temperature, whilst, commonly, homebrewers will refer to sodium based 'glycerol' hardening.

This is not the glycerol itself, but the sodium based by-products. Indeed, glycerol itself, as above, contains nothing more than carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Potassium based crude glycerol

Potassium based glycerol can be mixed with sawdust at any temperature.

Sodium based crude glycerol

Sodium based crude glycerol must be mixed when molten, so as to mix evenly, without lumps. Sodium based crude glycerol does, however, break up under enough mecahnical stress, so, it may be possible to mechanically mix when cold, however, this is probably ill advised, due to the sheer effort involved.

An easy way to avoid solid glycerol is simply to mix with sawdust as the glycerol is removed from the transesterification apparatus (ie when it is still hot / molten). See notes below as to an intermediary mix.

Wet Glycerol

The author has found that, although wet glycerol will burn, better results (ie a hotter burn) are achieved with dry glycerol. "Glyc-washing" oil that has not been pre-settled has been noted to affect combustion temperatures.

Getting the mix right

Its important to get the ratio of glycerol to sawdust correct. It is in this area that a large number of first-time 'glog' makers run into trouble, and the lack of former in no way makes this less critical.

The author has made the following observations -

Mix is lacking in glycerol, or has no glycerol (ie sawdust)

Whilst sawdust can, in the authors experience, be burnt, it burns quickly, and the heat output is not impressive

(photo of sawdust for reference)

Mix is correct

Mixture burns fiercely, with limited residual ash. It is easy to light, and burns with limited smoke.

(photo of mix)

A mix of this nature will look like damp sawdust. No glycerol will be directly visible. There will be no lumps, and the mixture will be as free-flowing as damp sawdust would be. A handful tossed into the air will break up instantly. It will not clump, nor stick. Shoveling such a mixture will result in a clean looking shovel (some film / dust residue, but no more).

(photo of skuttle after use)

Mix is too heavy in glycerol and / or has lumps of solid glycerol within it

This, in the authors opinion, is the worst case scenario. A mix that is overly heavy in glycerol will exibit the following -

• Difficult to light.
• Difficult to get a sustained burn.
• Smokey burn.
• Leaks glycerol into ash pan (which is a pain to then clean out!)

Below is a photo of a mix that is overly heavy, and needs more sawdust added -

(photo of unfinished mixture)

Physically preparing (mixing) the fuel

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Creating an intermediary mix, when time or materials are short

Often, the transesterification process is of primary concern, and there may be too little time or materials to mix the glycerol product at the same time.

When using potassium based by-product, this is of no concern, however, a usefull intermidiary can be created from molten sodium based product, that would otherwise solidfy.

In this instance, glycerol can be mixed with sawdust in far too high a ratio. As much as 1:2 (glycerol:sawdust) or even 1:1. This super saturated mix requires no physcial mixing (just pour the glycerol onto a bed of sawdust, and leave be) and will cool into a stiff slurry, which can then be heavily diluted with additional sawdust as time allows.

Using (burning) the fuel

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