BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel

I talked to the owner of the local gas-n-sip about his waste fryer oil and he said he uses liquid shortening, discarding as much as 15 gallons a week, something he'd rather give to me than pay for disposal. The place is 2 miles from home, ideal for the first step - a 5 gallon converter. The question is: will liquid shortening make biodiesel? I figure the forum will know the answer. Thanks.

Hello 00camper [url="http://www.ams.usda.gov/fqa/aa20100c.htm"]The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)[/url] has authorized the use of this Commercial Item Description. "The liquid shortening (deep-fry cooking) shall consist only of deodorized vegetable fats and oils, or blends of vegetable oils. The fats and oils shall have been processed by hydrogenation. The liquid shortening (deep-fry cooking) shall contain antifoaming agents and may contain antioxidants." That should work fine. You will have to do some freezing tests on the biodiesel to sort out at what temp it freezes BB

So if I make some BD from this type of oil, should I expect it to get clear? I have been washing and drying a btach that I believe is hydrogenated for over a week now. It makes some foamy stuff on the top when drying, and some cruddy yellowish thick stuff on the bottom of the wash tank. When I went to collect, I found that the stuff in the barrel was semi-solid in 65-70* weather. My Northern Tool 12v pump could not even pump it out of the barrel. It sucked the hose until it collapsed. To collect it I believe I will have to shovel it. Thanks, Chris

the foamy stuff you speak of.. what did you do with it .. along with the crud at the bottom of the tank.. have you ran this in your truck yet? because i can secure a donut shops shortening.. im in florida so it will probably be liquid for a good part of the year until winter hits

TO TORQUIN:

Just made my first batch of BD with waste vegetable shortening from Burger-King and am having the same problem as you did.  Did you find out how to solve the problem or have you given up on shortening?  Please advise. Thanks, Larry

 

TORQUIN:

So if I make some BD from this type of oil, should I expect it to get clear? I have been washing and drying a btach that I believe is hydrogenated for over a week now. It makes some foamy stuff on the top when drying, and some cruddy yellowish thick stuff on the bottom of the wash tank. When I went to collect, I found that the stuff in the barrel was semi-solid in 65-70* weather. My Northern Tool 12v pump could not even pump it out of the barrel. It sucked the hose until it collapsed. To collect it I believe I will have to shovel it. Thanks, Chris

I would expect it to get clear.

 Have you taken a fuel sample and tested it?  Try the 3/27 test to make sure you got a good reaction and there are no significant quantities of vegetable oil still in it.  If you get a dropout, that could be one reason for the crud.  Then take a sample of your fuel and shake it up with clear water  -- the water should remain clear when the mixture separates or the fuel is not sufficiently washed.