How to make Biodiesel - part 1 an overview
In this first of a multipart series on how to make your own biodiesel we will give an overview of the whole process of making biodiesel.
In the following parts of the series we will look at each part of the process in turn and in detail so you will have the confidence to try making biodiesel.
You don't need to be a chemist, scientist or hold a phD to make biodiesel. It really is quite simple as long as you are careful and sensible. Whats more the 'ingredients' that you need to make biodiesel with are readily available on your high street and so are easy to get hold of.
In case your impatient and skip ahead (not recommended) then please make sure you read the safety precautions for making biodiesel before you begin to make your biodiesel.
The main stages of making biodiesel
The more you find out about biodiesel, the more you marvel at it. As well as the
environmental and economic benefits of biodiesel, one of the top benefits is that
it is very easy to make. To make biodiesel we use alcohol and a catalyst to alter
the chemical structure of the organic oil such as peanut oil or rapeseed
oil.
This is achieved by mixing the alchohol and the catalyst together. The oil is then
heated to just below its boiling point and the alcohol/catalyst mix is added to
the oil. The mixture is then mixed together and allowed to settle.
When the mixture starts to settle there should be some visible layers forming. The
chemical reaction causes the oil to break down and the biodiesel layer will form
on the
top. A layer of glycerine forms on the bottom and a soap layer may occur in the
middle.
Once the settling is complete the layers can be drained off so that the biodiesel
is removed by itself. This biodiesel is noticeably thinner in viscosity than
the vegetable oil that we started with.
We now have some biodiesel but the process of making it is
not complete! We now need to wash the biodiesel to remove any impurities, alcohol
or soap that are left in the biodiesel. This will mean better engine performance when we come to use the
biodiesel. The biodiesel is washed using a mist wash
or a bubble wash.
The final stage of making biodiesel is to dry it. That is we want to remove any
water that may remain in our new batch of biodiesel.
We can now use the biodiesel in our diesel engine and benefit from cleaner, locally
produced, sustainable energy.
What materials will I need?
Firstly you will need the correct safety equipment that is detailed in part 2 of
this multi-part series on making biodiesel, some kind of vegetable oil to make the
biodiesel from, some alcohol (methanol is a popular choice) and a catalyst. Lye
is commonly used as a catalyst. Lye is a product that is commonly used for cleaning
drains.
You will also need containers for mixing the ingredients in. To begin with it is
recommended that you try making just a litre or two. When you have surprised yourself
at just how easy it is to make you can find some larger containers and start making
larger batches. Many people make biodiesel at home in batches of 20 gallons or more.
Once you have made your first couple of batches you may want to look at either buying
(or making your own) biodiesel processor. This will simplify the process for you
and enable you to make decent sized batches.
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