BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel

Hello Experts, at it again.

I'm finally ready to get going on the processing and have a few last questions:

1) Is liquid, hydrogenated soybean WVO a good product to process or bad?? (I have the opportunity to get 100gal/week from a friend who is manager of a restaurant)

2) does sulfuric acid eliminate titration and or WVO cleaning before processing??

3) Which is better: NOH or KOH??

4) Could I use a 75gal propane WH, instead of an electric water heater, if I decide to make my own "Appleseed" processor??

5) Does a Purolite Ion filter system, (as used by Beach Bio), eliminate washing after processing??

6) Is 120 deg. F of the oil at the pump hot enough to process properly??

 

Thanks in advance.....

Thomas

 

 

"Is liquid, hydrogenated soybean WVO a good product to process or bad?? "

It will work fine. The BD might gel in the upper 30's but it will work great!

"does sulfuric acid eliminate titration and or WVO cleaning before processing??"

Not quite, but if your oil titrates 12 or below KOH you can use 1ml/L concentrated sulfuric, at 130F, mixing for 6 - 8 hrs. It would be best to titrate at that time, unless you want to take a shot at using 12g/L of KOH (assuming a titration of 4).

"Which is better: NAOH or KOH??"

We like KOH for convenience and forgiveness. NAOH will make glycerin gel at room temp. and if you have high titrating oil it can gell the whole batch during processing. You can over shoot the KOH and be ok, but with more soap. If you overshoot with NAOH you get glop.

"Could I use a 75gal propane WH, instead of an electric water heater, if I decide to make my own "Appleseed" processor??"

I would NOT want an open flame anywhere near working with or storing methanol.

"Does a Purolite Ion filter system, (as used by Beach Bio), eliminate washing after processing??"

I have no experience with that, but yes it is possible. search on the GL process. That is demething the BD and filtering the soap out. Basically the soap is dissolved in the methanol.

"Is 120 deg. F of the oil at the pump hot enough to process properly??"

Given enough time it will. 135F is much better. For each 10deg. C drop in temp it will take twice as long to react.

 Good questions. Good luck!

Bob

Hello Bob,

Thanks for your great answers.

As you might have guessed, most of the questions relate to which reactor I should get, although I'm still leaning towards a BioPro. I should probably find someone locally who has one so that could see it in action.

Why would Beach Bio only go up to 120 deg. F, is it because of the plastic tanks?

Good call on the OPEN flame.

Thomas 

"Why would Beach Bio only go up to 120 deg. F, is it because of the plastic tanks?"

Must be.

Stay waaaayyy away from plastic processors. Especialy with plastic plumbing and valves!! Plastic is ok for washing and storage, but not heat.

Bob

bobabbey:

Plastic is ok for washing and storage

Plastic isn't even suitable for storage. From the NREL Biodiesel Handling Guide:

(Page 9-10) B100 may permeate some typical types of plastics (polyethylene*, polypropylene) over time and they should not be used for storing B100. 

*Note that plastic processors are made from polyethylene.

So you guys are saying I shouldn't even use those 250 gal. totes for WVO and or B100 storage after processing??

Thomas

Thomas Schwaiger:

So you guys are saying I shouldn't even use those 250 gal. totes for WVO and or B100 storage after processing??

WVO should store in plastic containers reasonably well, though this may not be up to state code regulations. Did you read the NREL guide? The National Renewable Energy Laboratories are leading researchers in biofuels and alternative energy research in this US. They made the statement about plastic being inappropriate for storage of Biodiesel.

Well, that's not good!

Up until now I got my B100 deliveries from my fuel supplier in 250 gal plastic totes.

Thomas

All biodiesel and blends I've seen transported was in stainless (or aluminum) tankers. Ask your supplier about the totes and why they use them. Ask them if they know about the guide too.