Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum diesel. It is called biodiesel because it is made from mostly biodegradable materials and can be used as fuel in diesel engines. It can also be used in boilers or furnaces designed to use heating oils or in oil-fueled lighting equipment. It can be used neat (100% biodiesel), or it can be blended with petroleum diesel.
The purpose of this publication is to describe how biodiesel can be made by an individual to provide fuel for diesel machinery on a farm or ranch. Please note that biodiesel used on public roads is subject to federal, state, and local taxes, just as is petroleum diesel. There are several processes that can be used to make biodiesel; this publication will describe one simple process. For information about other processes and other research done on biodiesel, see the Resources section. Note that there are a number of resources describing closed biodiesel processors, including how to make them at a low cost. A closed system processor mitigates some of the safety issues and can save money by reclaiming methanol, an expensive component of biodiesel.
Biodiesel can be made in any quantity, from a cup or so up to many gallons. The process described here is a batch process. Steady flow processes are more appropriate for biodiesel manufacturing plants than for the individual farmer or rancher. Since it is better to make small mistakes than big mistakes, I encourage people interested in making biodiesel to start with small batches and gradually work up to making larger batches.
