BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel

Making a test batch using some very poor quality WVO my result was very dark pre-wash and lighter after washing. Doing the 27/3 test there was still FFA in the mix.

The titration (done three times with the same result) showed I needed to add 5 grams of lye per liter. So to one liter of warmed and water free WVO I added 9 grams of lye to 250 ML of methanol. I then shook my 2 liter soda bottle for about 2 minutes.  Where did I go wrong?

 I don't know how to post a photo of the results. If someone can help with that I would be grateful.

Wayne

You can get a free subscription to photobucket or other hosting service, then link the image in your post.

 What temperature did you heat your oil?  Two minutes is not very long to mix, I would shake it periodically for at least 15 minutes.  DId you dissolve your lye into the methanol before adding it to the oil?  Keep in mind the proper amount of NaOH is 5 grams per liter, so you may have been a little light on the lye.  I would expect a 3/27 failure with low catalyst -- I had to increase from a base of 7 grams to 8.5 (I use KOH) before my fuel would pass a 3/27.

Did you allow enough time and temperature for the esterification to take place?  You really need to heat it to about 140F for several minutes to get the esterification reaction to go to completion. 

I forgot about photobucket Thanks for the reminder. Here is the link http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn40/irish1_08512/bio-diesel/. 

I heated the oil to about 200F to remove what little water there was then allowed it to cool to about 150F.

I was using the "Dr. Pepper Method" found here http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/makingasmallbatch/ and using the 4 grams as a base and adding the titration results (5) that's where I came up with the 9 grams I used. (I'm not trying to argue [I'm too new at this to do that] I'm jest letting you know where I got the amounts). I mixed the lye in the methanol until it was completely dissolved per the instructions.

I quess I 'll have to make another test batch using more lye and shaking more.

In a former life I worked for AT&T Local Network Services out of Dayton, NJ doing the card access. Maybe we talked at some point. 

Doc, I heated the oil to about 200F until is stopped popping (about ten minutes) to remove any water in the oil then allowed it to cool to about 150F. After I added the meth/lye mix and shook it. Then I let it sit for about 24 hours.

Here is the result. http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn40/irish1_08512/bio-diesel/