making your own biodiesel

Is anyone out there making their own biodiesel? I just started experimenting with it and find that it is pretty simple to make. I must say that I am a chemistry teacher and have a small advantage. I used virgin cooking oil for my first few "test batches" and seemed to produce what I think is "high quality" biodiesel. I have not tested it yet, but I get a very finite glycerin line. I have washed, dried and filtered my biodiesel and it gets clearer with subsequent filtering. I appreciate any information I can get. Thanks.

Welcome to the site, oh fellow teacher. Where do you teach?

Check out this site for a ton of background info about making biodiesel .

 

I teach in Jim Thorpe, Pa. The town is named after the famous athlete. I read most of the info. on this site and am really looking for personal experiences with biodiesel production i.e. hints or tips. What do you teach? Where do you teach? I think that the production of biodiesel would make a great lab for my chem II class and am doing as much research as I can. Thanks for your help!

 I teach in southeastern Mass, but I teach English and don't actually make biodiesel. 

I also teach. Depending on the time of year, at the Saigon Institute of Technology, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and private universities in Thailand. It can be a very interesting, visual, hands-on, subject to teach. I have a blast.

There is a huge interest in biodiesel here.

 

Chem be aware making BD is likely illegal to make in your city or township, and if used in a auto it is tax fraud on fed and state levels. 

This has gone around a few times in Illinois and the clarity that has evolved is good so far. Basically, if you make and use less than 5000 gallons of biodiesel per year in Illinois for personal use, you have to pay 22 cents/gallon once a year for road use taxes.

 http://12.43.67.2/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09500SB0267sam002&GA=95&SessionId=51&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=0267&GAID=9

 If you exceed the 5000 gallon level you have to register and make monthly payments.

 

Way to go Chem!!

The Illinois Legislation moved along after the following story got a great deal of attention and the legislators moved this up on the docket.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/illinois_man_fi.php

Dereck, homebrew biodiesel is legal as long as you pay your taxes. The EPA might have something to say aboutit, but they have much bigger fish to fry.

natescape:

Dereck, homebrew biodiesel is legal as long as you pay your taxes. The EPA might have something to say aboutit, but they have much bigger fish to fry.

 

Nate, I respect your opinion, but my local fire marshal, city council, insurance companies strongly disagree with that statement. There is more to it than taxes. There is public safety, license-permits, and zoning issues to be considered.

Imagine the unthinkable, your garage, shed, home, or whatever catches fire where you are making BD. Property damages are incurred by your neighbors, fire-fighters are hurt from breathing in vapors from hazardous chemicals, and your home is destroyed. Now that the fire is out, the Fire Marshall investigates and discovers you were making BD fuel with out his knowledge, permits, and in non-compliance with local zoning regulations.

Care to guess who is responsible for all damages and open to criminal and civil lawsuits. Don't look to your insurance company for help, they cancelled your policy as soon as they found out via Fire Marshall report, you were not covered for fuel production. Then the revenuers show up wanting taxes on all that fuel you made, have a nice day!

 

Dereck, you make several good points here. As I wrote before that I am experimenting with biodiesel and do not intend to make it for home use. I am also very concerned with safety issues. I am probably more aware of the safety concerns than most because I teach safety in chemistry lab. That being said, if I was going to make it for home use I would check with the local codes to see what issues needed to be addressed before I made it for home use. I am also concerned with the political issues behind biodiesel. I would hate to think that big oil companies have their hands in the rules that govern home biodiesel production as it may affect their profits. I think we are all naive to think that big business didn't "run" this country. I would just like to see the U.S. the way it was. I would like to see the hard working common person have a chance at a good life. (Gas at $3.50 and up!) I also sympathize with our soldiers in the middle east who are risking their lives and hope that our government would give people the ability to change our dependance on foreign oil. I "know" that the production of biodiesel is simple based on my experience and how easily other things are made such as processed foods and wonder why biodiesel hasn't been exploited. I like the idea of changing waste into something very useful. I just have serious doubts behind the "very slow" conversion to renewable resources. I appreciate your thoughts on these matters.

chem55, I think you are right about big oil trying to stop the alt fuels. They must be getting scared. I'd guess they did their homework & found that alt fuels are cheaper than oil. Martin

I checked with my home owners insurance 2 years ago and they told me as long as you make it in a seperate building they will cover any loss and also said it was legal just don't make it in your house or in an attached garage. Also you are limited on a certain amount before having to pay any tax. (State Farm)

Chem,

Making bd is easy, but the problems associated with it can be a pain. By problems I mean finding oil, finding good oil, sourcing methanol and lye, ect. Then of course the time needed to collect the oil, cleaning and dewatering, ect.

Don't get me wrong, I make a lot of bd but it all takes a lot of time and effort.

It's totally legal to make your own. There is a maximum limit per month before paying taxes.

I sure wish my fire marshall, city council and insurance companies would stop being complete idiots and leave bio-diesel brewers alone. Instead I would suggest that they get their lazy rear ends in gear and start going after meth labs and indoor pot gardens.  To be worried about your local government agencies cracking down on your small bio-diesel brewing operation is absurd.  Our founding fathers could of said,"we should'nt dump  tea into the boston harbor because the British might make us pay taxes for it"...lol.  Dude seriously... I can store two 150 pound cyclinders of oxygen and acetlyene and weld and cut my ass off in my garage without any problems.  Hell I can have keep 10 gallons of gasoline in my garage without any problems,... and store it right next to a number of nasty household chemicals...no problem again.  As far as paying taxes is concerned, run B-50 in your car and call it good...we pay enough friggin taxes as it is, for some Jerk off rich politician to send our troops to a foreign country (5 decorated combat vets in my family).plus a bunch of stupid social programs...Anyways I say be careful, pay attention to safety and brew your butt off.

 Sorry to rant on your website

chuckspowerstroke  Bravo!!

Well said!

 Is it legal to make your own bio-diesel in California? Person I know says your have to get licences to collect the used oil, and you have to pay taxes on the fuel you use. If you do not, he says that there are heafty fines. Anyone have any insite on this?

 Our government is pretty busy with other stuff.  Catching people making BD has to pretty far down on the list of priorities.  Keep a low profile.

BTW, your friend, did the fines actually happen to him, or has just heard.  Were they for tax or oil hauling? 

I made my first batch of biodiesel in the Canoe Paddle Processor right about 25 yards in front of 2 sheriff deps,  Several fire trucks and at least 20 county workers.  Right in the middle of my yard.

They thought it was cool !  :)

The Canoe Paddle Processor with no wires and switches looks pretty harmless !  :)

There are no laws in Florida that say you can't have a Canoe Paddle Processor on a little trailer in your yard.

There are no laws in Florida saying you can't use it to wash clothes either.  It works great as a washing machine that does not use electric !  It is a multiuse tool.  You could use it to collect rainwater !  Every yard should have one in it !  :)

Thanks, Steve