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Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 12:29:08 PM

MercTech

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Just an FYI sharing...

Small quantity biodiesel recipe.

4 gallons oil (peanut oil, french fry oil, etc)
1 gallon ethanol (where the white lightning comes in)
1 lb (1/2 kilo) caustic soda (lye, sodium hydroxide)

Make sure oil is filtered and preferably de-watered
In a five gallon bucket mix oil and alcohol.
Slowly add caustic soda while stirring

You should end up with an even honey to brown color after the reaction carries to completion.

Filter out the caustic soda (this is a catalyst and not used in the reaction, you can re-use the caustic soda)

Flash point test your produce for quality.

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 12:58:31 PM

OsideGirl

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MercTech

1 lb (1/2 kilo) caustic soda (lye, sodium hydroxide)

Just some FYI's on this (coming from a soap maker):

A kilo is 2.2lbs, so half a kilo would be 17.6 oz...so more than a pound. I'm not nit picking, but when dealing with sodium hydroxide extra ounces can cause problems.

Next, most places don't sell sodium hydroxide off the shelf any longer because people use it to make meth. So, unless you're buying 50lb bags from your local chemical supplier, you'll need to order it from an internet source. Some may require that you provide ID and sign a statement that you're not making meth.

And lastly, when using sodium hydroxide be extremely safe. Wear rubber/latex/nitrile gloves, wear eye protection, wear long sleeves, long pants and closed toed shoes. Make sure you rinse any area that comes into contact with sodium hydroxide immediately. It will burn through skin and clothing. (I got a good burn from just two little grains that stuck to my skin)

< Message edited by OsideGirl -- 2/20/2014 12:59:53 PM >

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 1:05:01 PM

freedomdwarf1

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This "recipe" would cost me much more than buying biodiesel direct from the pump.
The oil alone would be 2x the cost of the biodiesel.

Is there a point to this except to prove a point with home chemistry??

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 1:08:21 PM

OsideGirl

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Actually, most people who make biodiesel get used oil from restaurant fryers. So, it's usually free, but unfortunately because many people started making biodiesel when gasoline prices jumped, it's hard to find a restaurant that doesn't already have an agreement with a biodiesel maker.

< Message edited by OsideGirl -- 2/20/2014 1:21:39 PM >

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 1:20:34 PM

freedomdwarf1

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quote:

ORIGINAL: OsideGirl

Actually, most people who make biodiesel get used oil from restaurant fryers. So, it usually free, but unfortunately because many people started making biodiesel when gasoline prices jumped, it's hard to find a restaurant that doesn't already have an agreement with a biodiesel maker.

You're probably right - for the US.
But over here, even the dirty oil would be almost as expensive as the biodiesesl from the pumps (rarely free here).
And that's without all the rigmarole with the other ingredients (and the safety stuff).
Chip shops and resaurants get a good price for used oil over here.

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 2:18:33 PM

jlf1961

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quote:

ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1

This "recipe" would cost me much more than buying biodiesel direct from the pump.
The oil alone would be 2x the cost of the biodiesel.

Is there a point to this except to prove a point with home chemistry??

At present here in town you can get used but not rancid cooking oil from resteraunts for about $4 per 50 gallons, the companies that haul it away charge $40 a pickup.

As for the recipe, there are other ways to make biodiesel without the alcohol, but it takes longer.

Side note:

Cannabis stalks, branches, leaves and the smokable buds can be pressed to provide a high quality oil that makes a very good biodiesel. The added plus would be to have local pot smokers drooling at the fence and then screaming as you put the entire plant through the press.

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 3:10:39 PM

DomKen

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You guys do know that a diesel engine will run on straight veg oil as long as the oil doesn't get cold right?

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 3:32:56 PM

jlf1961

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

You guys do know that a diesel engine will run on straight veg oil as long as the oil doesn't get cold right?

Yup, that is what it was developed for. Hell the old multifuel military trucks would run on used motor oil if you ran it through filters. The only practical reason for thinning the oil to what it is now is to keep it fluid even in temperatures that would turn veggie oil into something almost as thick as maple syrup.

And the mythbusters put used cooking oil in a merc diesel after running it through a few filters, proving you dont need to use a catalyst. All the catalyst does is breakdown the glycerin molecules better, but it is not necessary.

A basic biodiesel production system is as simple as having a holding tank on an elevated platform with a gravity feed through a series of filters to a second holding tank. If the used cooking oil is used to the point of lowering the smoke point by 10 degrees, the used oil will be a little thicker in viscosity than refined diesel.

Of course if you filter fryer oil often enough, as well as clean the sediment out of the fryers, and dont cook at a high temp (over 400 degrees) you can use the same oil for years, if you are using cast iron to fry in.

Stainless steel breaks down oil over time, so the most you can expect before food quality goes down would be about a week and a half at the most.

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 4:09:24 PM

hlen5

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The things you can learn on this site!! Very cool, folks. Thanks!!

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RE: Biodiesel... - 2/20/2014 6:59:03 PM

LookieNoNookie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1

This "recipe" would cost me much more than buying biodiesel direct from the pump.
The oil alone would be 2x the cost of the biodiesel.

Is there a point to this except to prove a point with home chemistry??

Still pretty cool (even barring the oz inaccuracies) knowing we can....be independent.

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