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How To Make BiodieselHow To Make Biodiesel - Introduction
It is worth noting that pure biodiesel can dissolve natural rubber hoses and seals. Most new diesel engines have synthetic hoses and seals, but older engines may need to fitted with new hoses and seals. Diesel injector pumps don't generally have rubber parts in direct contact with the fuel, so it is usually easy to replace hoses and seals without any major hassles. If a diluted fuel mixture of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel (called "B20") is used it should have no effect on the older natural rubber hoses. It is often recommended to make biodiesel from fresh oil to gain an understanding and appreciation of the processes before moving onto making bigger batches from waste oils. Biodiesel typically takes a couple of days to a week from start to finish to making a batch. Most people making biodiesel make anywhere between 20 to 100 gallons at a time in a batch process.
Equipment
Many home brewers either buy a variety of premade processors designed for processing biodiesel or custom make their own processors either from kits or from plans on the web. Professionally built processors can cost as little as $500 to several thousands of dollars. Kits can be purchased for making your own from several online retailers for as little as $200 on up to elaborate systems complete with methanol recovery condensers. Instructions
on How to Make Biodiesel
Definitive Guide - The Encylopedia of Making Biodiesel
Biodiesel Recipes Some links to detailed methods when thinking about how to make biodiesel.
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Biodiesel
is generally made using chemicals to alter an organic oil by
using a catalyst and an alcohol (most people use ethanol or
methanol). Ethanol is less dangerous although methanol is not as
expensive. For the catalyst, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) or
potassium hydroxide can be used, although sodium hydroxide is often
cheaper. The process of converting oil to biodiesel is called
Transesterification. The chemical reaction that occurs during this
process "cracks" the oil into Esters and Glycerol. As the
process occurs the glycerine gravitates to the bottom of the container
leaving alkyl esters, the glycerol is then drained off and the
remaining top liquid is biodiesel. The biodiesel is often then washed
to remove any remaining impurities and can then used to fuel an
unmodified diesel engine.
Biodiesel
can be made in anything from a small 2 litre drink bottle to an
elaborate processor complete with separate tanks for processing,
washing, methoxide mixing, settling, and filtering. Obtaining equipment
is relatively easy. Complete processing equipment can be custom made
using plans off of the web or by buying pre-made kits ready to
assemble. Most people get started by making small batches with minimal
equipment and then gradually move up to making large batches using
large processors built specifically for making biodiesel.
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