The output of a simple still still has too much water to use for biodiesel production.  You will need totally dry ethanol for this to work properly.  My understanding is that even 2% water is enough to poison the reaction.

 

If you are looking for an easier way to address this, I have seen posts on TDIClub and infopop about success using FRESH E85 to make biodiesel.  So if you have a local E85 source this might be worth looking into.

dhdurgee,

Interesting.  Thank you for the information.  Still, since I am experimenting, I might try creating a dry ethanol.  Not sure exactly how yet...but if I used E85, that means that some part of the process would still be dependent on mineral, (i.e. fossil fuel), materials.  I'm just wondering if I can "home brew" a completely organic process to make biodiesel.  One that would be ASTM quality. 

 Thank you again,

jdg

The folks at Mother Earth did some research into the use of ethanol and its production. It seems the ethanol must be 195+ proof. Normally this is accomplished by two stage distillation. However they've also identified a drying method that uses cornmeal to increase the proof of the raw distillate in the cooling tower.

 Here's the link to the ethanol based process developed at the University of Idaho.

http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethyl_esters.html

 And the cornmeal drying process developed at Purdue:

http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_grits.html 

 The most commonly used and cheapest method is to distill to 95-96% (max concentration attainable with distiollation), then use a molecular sieve. A mollecular sieve is basically a manufactured compund that will absorb water molecules and any smaller molecules. Once it is saturated it is baked or layed out to dry and can be reused many times.

tnilc99:

dude I dont know where you got your info from 1 ton of wood produces 1 liter.................

I have been producing anywhere from 87 to 110 GALLONS of methanol from a ton ( 2000 lbs. ) of pine wood.

 

What university did you say you attended?????????????????????????????????????

 It was quoted from a web source that i had read a while back, dependant on the source they were using which i failed to mention because i didnt remember. Doesnt say anything about the university i attended as i didnt study "pine wood methanol production". Abviously you've never been so you wouldnt undestrand how things are in mechanical (not chemical)  engineering programs. No need for attempted cheapshots, correct me if i'm wrong so i wont be misinformed but no need to be a dipshit.

There is a commercial processor in North Dakota making with ethanol , we bought some last Aug.

We were going up that way again and called ahead to see how many tanks we should bring , the price is up too high , $5.45 gal. , so not buying there for now , it was very good fuel , I do not remember the exact numbers , but these are close , at B50 , it did not gell till about -60*F , I put in freezer , B100 it clouded at about 15*F , put out side for colder over night -26*F , this time it saw froozen .

Also he said that 90% of commercially processed bio is shipped overseas .

Watched CSPAN yesterday , government investigating fuel prices , had about 8 people answering , a bunch of different organizations , truckers union extra but non from the oil companies .

One thing I caught near the end is that the government is giving tax subsities to bio producers to ship over seas , its like they want to get rid of it before it catches on . 

Is methanol the easiest way to make a biodiesel? I just wanted to try something like this for sometime now. Thanks!

___________________________

Car covers or Spill overs