BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel

I have just recently completed my webpage dealing with dry washing using Purolite PD 206 ion exchange resin. http://www.b100wh.com  is my main site with the washing links near the bottom of the page. The results are very encouraging.

 Looks like promising results. Keep us updated.

That is a really nice looking filter set up     I have a barrel of 206 here and have been trying to figure out how to build a filter system.    what kind of flow do you get with it?   gallons per minute?  I am needing to be able to flow 250 gallons per hour and the only ones I have seen to do that are huge in size.  I could build something like you have but add several in parralle to get my flow numbers up.   I have found some fibreglass filter housing like your but twice the internal vollume. What kind of flow pressure do you have?    Thanks   greg

To get that kind od flow 250 GPH, or a little over 4 GPM yoyu are either going to need real large tanks, or 4 sets of tanks that flow 1 GPM. If you use 8 tanks 16"x65" 4 of them in paralle, with the other 4 in series (Lead/lag set up) You will get 4 GPM.  If oyu go with just 2 tanks inKeith lead/lag each tank would need to be about 200 gallons.

 

I have looked all over the net for tanks like those  where did you get them?       I am interested in trying that system.  

  One other question  what about an updraft system?  My friend thinks if you run 1 gpm threw a updraft filter you will not have to deal with the packing issue of the Purolite in the bottom of the filter. He thinks that if you controll the flow speed up  that you would not have the bed pack down so tight and get  the same filter effect.  

You might want to contact a local water treatment company that does VOC remediation. Legal's, and our tanks were used for VOC,and ion exchange processes. Keith

Ok  I found one of those tanks   $174 to my door.  I'm sure I can find them cheaper  but for now the price was good enough.   9" dia X 48" tall   Let you know how it goes.     

Springboard Biodiesel Introduces the SB100 Drywash System employing PD 206 resin

From their web site: "A revolutionary drywash system that surpasses all competition with a complete wash of biodiesel in conjunction with methanol removal. Springboard biodiesel is proud to introduce this exceptional product to the BioPro community."

http://www.springboardbiodiesel.com/products/sb100

Hello All,

I own the B60 (45 gal batch max)from BeachBio which utilizes a residential "Whirlpool" filter housing that has to be filled with 1 pound of PD 206 media to perform a purolite dry wash, (at as they say about 1 gal/min (or until clear.)

Now, this is NOTHING like the much bigger tanks you are talking about and I thereefore am wondering if this system is just a Mickey Mouse setup and can NEVER replace the water wash.

I chose BeachBio for it's purolite dry wash system, since I don't want to use water for the wash process, (especially here in SoCal where we shouldn't waste water).

I'm also not sure slowing down the flow through the filter by closing down the valves is a good setup either as this would cause unnecessary stress onto the pump?

Is it possible to use speed reducer (like the one fo routers or even a dimmer device in order to slow down the pump)??

Sorry if I stole the thread

 

Thomas

Dear Legal Eagle,

Do you think I will get away with my (poorly) designed processor making high quality bd utilizing it's 1 pound purolite dry wash system, (a whirlpool residential filter housing) or should I definetely opt for one of the tall tanks like you have?? And will that take care of the demethylation or do I have to settle/circulate like you do?

Thomas  

Hey Tom, Can you post a picture of your whirlpool filter set up.  Most of the time your standard filter housing doesn't work for resin columns because the biodiesel eventually ( sooner rather than later) takes the path of least resistance which greatly alters the flow through the resin and ultimately channels it past the remaining active resin beads. 

Recirculating will improve results but most likely will not foster the full use of your 1 lb of resin.  Additionally 1 pound of PD206 is approx. 1/7th of a gallon so the maximum flow rate through an industry standardized column would be 3/7th of a gallon per HOUR...

GCG

The flow through that filter housing will be so rediculously slow you most likely will get mad at it. our system has 300 pounds of resin split between 2 tanks. With our system we can flow 1gpm. Keith

Hi guys,

I'm sorry, I was away from the forum for a while. I just posted an update on the bdfaq page. I'll try to get a picture of my system up by tomorrow. Like I said, the biggest problem I had with my first 2 batches was getting rid of the trace methanol, (the preset "batch calculator" from BeachBio also came with using 22% of methanol, which probably was too high to begin with). So now I just heat up the batch after reaction for a couple of times to evaporate the methanol. Is it also possible that 125 deg F. is not hot enough for a quality reaction? (I'm reluctant in going any higher than 128 F. because of the plastic tanks). I started a 20gal batch yesterday which I'm planning to push through the purolite at arate of 7-10 gal/hr. Too fast??

Thomas

That flow rate is WAY TOO fast. It works out to 0.166 gpm. This is the flow rate for 25 pounds ofpurolite in each of 2 tanks. The tanks should be 8"x44". For 1 pound of mediad your flow rate is 0.006 GPM or about 0.4 GPH. Keith

Thomas Schwaiger:

So now I just heat up the batch after reaction for a couple of times to evaporate the methanol.

Where is the methanol you vaporize going? What vessel are you carrying out this process in? Do you realize that methanol vapors are very flamable and potentially explosive? Are there any sources of ignition (non-explosion proof electrical, furnace, etc) near your processor when you carry out this procedure? Are there humans near the processor at this time?

Something else to keep in mind. Since you're in California, liberating that much methanol into the atmosphere is likely not legal (VOC regs). Look up the Graham Laming Eco-processor. This type of system captures the methanol for reuse and avoids some hazards, as well as the pollution aspect.

GCG:

I'm attaching a few pictures to show my "modified setup".

1) complete setup w. WVO tank on right and BD storage w. fuel pump on left, (behind methanol drum).

2) modifications to ALL steel plumbing incl. brass ball valves.

3) close-up of the "whirlpool" filter housing w. 1lb of PD206, (note the bucket to observe a flow rate of 1/3of a qt/min, throttled by a gate valve and pressure by-passed with both return valves to reactor tank open).

morris:

see 3)

ebztz:

You are FREAKING me out here! I'm quite stupid huh. I had no idea that evaporating would be an explosion hazard. I thought that only applies to high heat and high pressure. I heat the batch either with the heat exchanger, (red piping on top of pump) to 120 degrees or wheel the whole dolly ouside and leave the lid off. (If I leave it in  the barn I open all doors and windows).

I used a "qc5" quick test from AAA-chemicals and it came up cloudy ontop of their pink solution. Anybody trusts their test solutions? Any input? (My fuel is perfectly clear through a water bottle).

Thomas

       

Thomas Schwaiger:

You are FREAKING me out here! I'm quite stupid huh. I had no idea that evaporating would be an explosion hazard. I thought that only applies to high heat and high pressure.

There are reports of common things like a sparking drill and the opening of an overhead garage door igniting methanol explosions. This material is not to be triffled with; it's toxic and highly flamable. That said, there are thousands of people working with this material safely on a regular basis. You need to do your homework first; learning about safety via trial-and-error is, at best, unwise. Did you know that methanol vapors are heavier than air and will follow the ground (read), accumulating in low places like basements (think water heater ignition)?

Thomas Schwaiger:

I used a "qc5" quick test from AAA-chemicals and it came up cloudy ontop of their pink solution. Anybody trusts their test solutions? Any input? (My fuel is perfectly clear through a water bottle).

I started a discussion on this very topic last week. Have you carried out a 27/3 solubility test as well?

Hi Erik,

Yes, I have done the 3/27 test and it shows fatty droplets, which obviously shows failed separation. It's funny that you started a discussion on the QC tests after I found the same problems with that company and not responding to my questions , (I must be attracting bad businesses). There is a picture of several AAA test vials on extremebiodiesel's website where they show a "Haze" test sample which looks like my test sample. But it doesn't describe the cause or failed result.

I have access to a water purification tank like legalEagle is suggesting on top. Do you believe with a bigger amount and slower flow rate I would be able to overcome the methanol situation? (he is also not demething at any point). I asked John from BeachBio now numerous times to comment and proof on this forum that what he claims his system can do is true, but I haven't heard from him in a while. Maybe it is time to make reports.

Thomas 

Thomas Schwaiger:

It's funny that you started a discussion on the QC tests after I found the same problems with that company

This discussion was started a few months ago, but recently made it on-line. We have no results other than to say the more-expensive pHLip tests appeared to be notably more sensitive than the AAA Quick Tests. I'm hoping to find more information.

Thomas Schwaiger:

There is a picture of several AAA test vials on extremebiodiesel's website where they show a "Haze" test sample which looks like my test sample. But it doesn't describe the cause or failed result.

As you've noted, this information is kind of useless. Haze could indicate glycerides or it could indicate moisture. I could even be a passing sample with low-gel-point components.

Thomas Schwaiger:

Do you believe with a bigger amount and slower flow rate I would be able to overcome the methanol situation?

No. Purolite is not designed to remove methanol.

Thomas Schwaiger:

he is also not demething at any point

If you read his statements carefully, you'll note he plans on adding this (or already has). He also suggests inplimenting the Graham Laming method (I mentioned this before). Methanol and other alcohols are corrosive; Flex Fuel vehicles that burn alcohol have specially-selected components which are chemically-compatible. ASTM specs include the flash point test which is essentially a methanol test, but also an indicator of material flamability.