by the style of this I'm guessing you got it from the Jouney . . .  I recommend folks not to bother with that site, for the reason's you've outlined Chuggy, and a few of my own.

it's foolproof method has come in for lots of criticism because even well practiced biodieselers have had trouble making good fuel with it, . . . If you've got a double first in bio-chemistry and engineering I reckon that on a good day, you could sort out the good from the bad and the down right ugly on that site.  Other than that, it does your head in, a lot of the stuff contradicts itself in my book.

they also deliberately hype up the deadly poison bit  That's probably the bit I like best  - - x - - some folks get lung cancer at 30 from the exhaust smoke from their 90 year old, '90 a day since I was 6' grandads - - x - - The trouble with safety warnings is that you hype them up. 

That said, illegal still have killed a few operators when they've turned out methanol instead of drinking alcohol - - x - - Like normal alcohol, methanol fumes give a warm comfortable feeling of safety.

To get the chemical reaction that turns veg oil into biodiesel you need heat, I think the minimum is about 20-25 degrees C but at this temp it would need agitating for hours, so most people go for around 55 deg C 

• Do you get better fuel at around one particular temperature Chuggy?
• Do you get more fuel at around one particular fuel?

 I tried going at 63 deg C once but could see slight methanol vapours starting to form on the surface when I poured the methoxide in, so I kept a safe distance just outside the garage in the fresh air, so I'm sticking with 60 deg C from now on.

The 'dip your toe in the water' i've been sticking on the site has a condensation trap - - x - - What do you reckon to that idea?

Jammie

you asked

• Do you get better fuel at around one particular temperature Chuggy?
• Do you get more fuel at around one particular fuel?
• The 'dip your toe in the water' i've been sticking on the site has a condensation trap - - x - - What do you reckon to that idea?

I don't think you get that much difference in quality with heat variation, the reaction just goes quicker with more heat, the most critical elements for the amount of conversion(transesterification of veg oil into biodiesel methyl esters)) and the quality of the fuel are the result of the amount of methanol and catalyst used.

A trap for the methanol is a good idea, but obviously involves more work to build, if you are careful and methodical you should be alright without one.

Tilly's Dr pepper method is a good intro into basic biodiesel making this webpage has useful pictures 

 Tilly's Dr pepper method from http://www.kitchen-biodiesel.com/

Thank you very much for Dr Pepper Chuggy, I enjoyed it.

The bit that puzzles me is that very few of the sites mention checking to see how much hydroxide is left in the oil.

The next bit of the one I've been putting on the site has a con trap. - - x - - for my money, if the vapour condenses properly, the con trap can vent into the air. - - x - - although the site one doesn't.

One lot boil the spare methanol off at the end of the process and condense it so that they have some clean methanol for next time.

J

Jammie

I'm not sure what you mean by checking to see how much hydroxide is left in the oil, sodium or potassium hydroxide is mixed into methanol then added to the warmed oil, do you mean how much catalyst remains in the finished biodiesel? if so this depends on how much was used but should only be negligable amounts

You need to have quite a bit of the glycerine by product to start reclaiming the methanol from it, people usually manage to reclaim 10 -15%, and as the methanol is the costly bit this can help reduce your costs.

I really must go and get on with the work I should be doing instead of playing on here!

I tried that work malarky Chuggy, but never took to it.

do you mean how much catalyst remains in the finished biodiesel - x - I'm not sure which bit is what they call a catalyst.

I mean how much sodium hydroxide (or potassiom hydroxide)  that you pour into the cooking oil is left - x - The technical sites test to see how much is left over and neutralize it - x - the backyard ones seem to keep quiet about it.

The weregonnamaketheworldlastforever site mentions using a solution made from a plant to so find out how much hydroxide is left, but like to much of that site,  it seemed a bit too "hippy to me man".

In my book, hydroxide could seriously shorten the life of an engine.

Jammie

sorry I should have said that the sodium/potassium hydroxide is the catalyst, and there shouldn't really be any left in the biodiesel, if the reaction is done well it should all be used up, but if like me you use more than normal, then I recommend washing the biodiesel to remove it, some people don't bother washing their biodiesel and unless they got their catalyst amounts exact so it is all used in the reaction then they will surely have some catalyst in their fuel!

 

I'm not sure what you mean by checking to see how much hydroxide is left in the oil, sodium or potassium hydroxide is mixed into methanol then added to the warmed oil, do you mean how much catalyst remains in the finished biodiesel?

I've not worked out what they mean by a catalyst yet Chuggy.  Which bit is the bit they call a catalyst please?

I mean how much hydroxide (sodium or  hydroxide) is left at the end - x - What can go wrong, will go wrong.

J

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36799&item=4534587977&rd=1

A very unusual item this! I am not at all sure what vehicle this was intended for but it is similar in design and construction to the "enots" type as fitted to Landrover , scammell, Ferret etc.The difference is that there is a pair of change over valves in parallel. In effect it will change over 'two tanks' to 'two tanks'. The sealing washers etc are all the same which is why I bought it. Otherwise it is just nice to have it-- so well made and a quality item

Just the job for a seperate tank for chippie oil if you wish to go that route?

If you wish to know how to knock an oil heater up for a fre quid, let me know on this column.

J