05-01-2006, 10:49 PM
Ingredients
⢠500 ml (1 cup) vegetable oil. (cooking oils such as Mazola, New Maid etc.)
⢠85 ml methanol. (The easiest source of methanol is Dri-Gas, obtainable from any automotive store. Be sure to get the one that contains methanol -, not the one containing iso-propyl alcohol.)
⢠1/4 level tsp. of lye (sodium hydroxide). (Red Devil lye is carried by most grocery and hardware stores.)
⢠Measuring Cup showing both ml and cups.
⢠Wooden Spoon
⢠Blender, or mixing bowl that you will not use for food
⢠Cooking Thermometer
⢠Tall thin vessel used to allow a mixture to separate.
How it works
The reaction (transesterification) substitutes methanol (wood alcohol, dri-gas ...) for the Glycerine in triglycerides (fats, oils) to make the methyl esters called biodiesel. It uses lye as a catalyst. A junior chemist might write it like this:
Triglyceride (fats or oils) + Methanol ===> Biodiesel + Glycerine (Lye catalyst)
The lye converts a small amount of the oil to soap. After the reaction is over, the Glycerine and soap settle to the bottom of the vessel and the biodiesel floats on top.
How to do it
1. Measure 500 ml (1 cup) of vegetable oil into a blender (or mixing bowl).
2. Heat the oil to 120 F (not critical) using a cooking thermometer while carrying out the next step.
3. In a separate cup measure 85 ml of methanol.
4. To the methanol add 1/4 level tsp. of lye (sodium hydroxide).
5. Stir well with a wooden spoon, crushing as needed until all the flakes disappear. (The mixture will be slightly cloudy and is called "sodium methoxide".)
6. Add the methanol-lye mixture to the warm oil while vigorously stirring, using a mixer, paint stirrer (electric drill with propeller) or blender. Stir for 30 minutes. The mixture at first thickens, then becomes thinner than the original oil.
7. Allow the mixture to settle for a day in a tall thin vessel. The biodiesel floats to the top and can be poured off into a container for display. The glycerine and soap go to the bottom and can be discarded (but can make a high glycerine soap).
You have now made biodiesel on a small scale and can appreciate the use of renewable fuels from farms!
This clear biodiesel contains a very small amount of soap. If you want to use it in your diesel vehicle, go ahead, but only in small quantities. However, if you want to make large quantities or for sale, European specifications require removal of the soap by washing or other effective means.
⢠500 ml (1 cup) vegetable oil. (cooking oils such as Mazola, New Maid etc.)
⢠85 ml methanol. (The easiest source of methanol is Dri-Gas, obtainable from any automotive store. Be sure to get the one that contains methanol -, not the one containing iso-propyl alcohol.)
⢠1/4 level tsp. of lye (sodium hydroxide). (Red Devil lye is carried by most grocery and hardware stores.)
⢠Measuring Cup showing both ml and cups.
⢠Wooden Spoon
⢠Blender, or mixing bowl that you will not use for food
⢠Cooking Thermometer
⢠Tall thin vessel used to allow a mixture to separate.
How it works
The reaction (transesterification) substitutes methanol (wood alcohol, dri-gas ...) for the Glycerine in triglycerides (fats, oils) to make the methyl esters called biodiesel. It uses lye as a catalyst. A junior chemist might write it like this:
Triglyceride (fats or oils) + Methanol ===> Biodiesel + Glycerine (Lye catalyst)
The lye converts a small amount of the oil to soap. After the reaction is over, the Glycerine and soap settle to the bottom of the vessel and the biodiesel floats on top.
How to do it
1. Measure 500 ml (1 cup) of vegetable oil into a blender (or mixing bowl).
2. Heat the oil to 120 F (not critical) using a cooking thermometer while carrying out the next step.
3. In a separate cup measure 85 ml of methanol.
4. To the methanol add 1/4 level tsp. of lye (sodium hydroxide).
5. Stir well with a wooden spoon, crushing as needed until all the flakes disappear. (The mixture will be slightly cloudy and is called "sodium methoxide".)
6. Add the methanol-lye mixture to the warm oil while vigorously stirring, using a mixer, paint stirrer (electric drill with propeller) or blender. Stir for 30 minutes. The mixture at first thickens, then becomes thinner than the original oil.
7. Allow the mixture to settle for a day in a tall thin vessel. The biodiesel floats to the top and can be poured off into a container for display. The glycerine and soap go to the bottom and can be discarded (but can make a high glycerine soap).
You have now made biodiesel on a small scale and can appreciate the use of renewable fuels from farms!
This clear biodiesel contains a very small amount of soap. If you want to use it in your diesel vehicle, go ahead, but only in small quantities. However, if you want to make large quantities or for sale, European specifications require removal of the soap by washing or other effective means.
