BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel

We are trying a small Dr. Pepper method using new vegetable oil.  We talked to a chemist and he suggested using everclear instead of the heet.  We've tried mixing the standard 4g NaOH (ACS Lab Grade) to 250mL of everclear and no reaction occured.  We went  to 4.5, 5.0, & 5.5 and still no reaction.  Could the everclear require more NaOH then heet?

Wait a sec. Everclear is ethanol isn't it? Everything says you need methanol for the reaction not ethanol.

Ethanol will not work will it?

irish1:

Wait a sec. Everclear is ethanol isn't it? Everything says you need methanol for the reaction not ethanol.

Ethanol will not work will it?

Ethanol can work, but you need more than 20%, and it must be DRY.  190 proof Everclear will never work, there is too much water in it.

190 proof Everclear is 95% ethanol and 5% water. You would have to distill it down to 199 proof or better which I don't think is possible for a home brewer.

 

Besides using Everclear is a really bad economic product to use. A gallon of Everclear goes for what $25-$30? Gallon of Methanol $5?

dereckbc:

190 proof Everclear is 95% ethanol and 5% water. You would have to distill it down to 199 proof or better which I don't think is possible for a home brewer.

 

Besides using Everclear is a really bad economic product to use. A gallon of Everclear goes for what $25-$30? Gallon of Methanol $5?

Even Heet is $1.00 for 350 ml.  Pure dry methanol.

old300D:

Even Heet is $1.00 for 350 ml.  Pure dry methanol.

So what is you point? Certainly not economics because at $1 per 350 ml  for methanol at a micro-scale converted to 1 US Gal is about $11 with no additional refinement cost of distilling.  No wonder you don't understand markets or business, just idealism.

 

dereckbc:

old300D:

Even Heet is $1.00 for 350 ml.  Pure dry methanol.

So what is you point? Certainly not economics because at $1 per 350 ml  for methanol at a micro-scale converted to 1 US Gal is about $11 with no additional refinement cost of distilling.  No wonder you don't understand markets or business, just idealism.

This thread is about making samples of biodiesel.  That snide comment is completely unwarranted.  This is biodiesel production -- take your issues to an open forum.

It isnt economical to use Heet but I havent found a supplier for Methanol. It seems it isnt a household item.

old300D:

This thread is about making samples of biodiesel.  That snide comment is completely unwarranted.  This is biodiesel production.

You are right. I will give you this one. My point is grain alcohol (Everclear or White Lightning) is just the wrong thing to use from a technical and econimic standpoint.

two005duramaxdiesel:

I havent found a supplier for Methanol. It seems it isnt a household item.

No it is not. Do you have any race tracks or high performance shops around your area? There are places you can order 5 and 55 gallon drums and have it delivered.

No tracks but there is a speed shop near by, I'll try that. Thanks.

ok maybe this is a stupid question but what happens if you use isopropyl alcohol instead of methyl alcohol?

two005duramaxdiesel:

ok maybe this is a stupid question but what happens if you use isopropyl alcohol instead of methyl alcohol?

What happens is nothing.  No reaction.

two005duramaxdiesel:

ok maybe this is a stupid question but 

There are no honest stupid questions. Infact I think it would be stupid NOT to ask a question concerning chemicals. No where except on the fringe of chemistry (and with a huge, huge amount of safety and background knowledge) is learned knowledge based on 'lets throw some chem's together and see what happens'. And certainly, should not be done in a garage.

 

Froggy you were reading my mind. Untrained/uneducated people playing chemist because they slept at a HI last night.