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In really simple terms here's what happens:
1- Put your pre-treated oil in a processor
2- Heat the oil up to about 130-135 deg F (make sure your processor can handle the heat!)
3- Figure out how much catalyst (lye or caustic potash) you'll need (Titration)
4- Add the strong base (lye or caustic potash) to the methanol to make methoxide
5- Add the methoxide to the oil & mix it all up
6- Let it separate & pull off the glycerin
7- Wash it & dry it
8- Add it to the tank & drive on down the road!
Here's the basic recipe
1- Start with a known amount of oil.
2- Oil Amount X 0.20 = Methanol required
3- Titrate Oil = Strong Base required
4- Mix Methanol & Strong Base together until fully dissolved
4- Heat oil to 130-135 ° F
5- Kill heat source & add methoxide to oil
6- Mix for 2 hours
7- Allow to sit for 18-24 hours
8- Drain off glycerin
9- Wash out excess contaminants
10- Remove any water by drying the Biodiesel
11- Add final product to diesel tank
12- Drive away!
EXAMPLE:
1- Add 100 liters of oil to processor & turn on the heat
2- Measure out 20 liters of Methanol
3- Titrate oil using KOH as strong base
4- Assume a Titration of 3.
5- 3 + 7 = 10 grams per liter. 10 X 100 = 1,000 grams
4- Add 1,000 grams of KOH to the methanol
5- Allow the KOH to fully dissolve
6- Once the oil hits 130 deg F, kill the heat
7- Slowly add the KOH/Methanol mixture to the processor
8- Mix everything in the processor for at least 2 hours
9- After 2 hours, allow it to sit for 18-24 hours
10- After it's sat, drain off the glycerin
11- Transfer it to a wash tank
12- Wash and dry the Biodiesel
13- Once dry, add it to the fuel tank & drive away!
For a great analogy of what is going on chemically during the reaction, Click Here!
Check out this short video on how to make a small batch!
Wikipedia Biodiesel Recipe Well written recipe for making a small batch of Biodiesel. I believe it's based off of Mike Pelly's recipe.
World Famous Dr. Pepper Method - Part 1 Part I of a recipe for making a small batch of Biodiesel in a Dr. Pepper bottle. Followed by many the first time they make biodiesel.
Dangerous Laboratories Great instructions for making a batch of Biodiesel for the first time. Complete with pictures and detailed instructions.
