Making Biodiesel

WARNING!!! Making biodiesel involves using dangerous chemicals, creating toxic fumes, and lots of heat. That said, please excercise safety and caution when attempting to make Biodiesel.

*** The Utah Biodiesel Cooperative will not be held liable for any injury, property damage, or other problems resulting from the use of this page. It is for informational purposes only. ***

Basic Production Concept

Biodiesel Production Details

Jack Jones Method - Adopted from Mike Pelly's Method
Written & put together by Graydon Blair of Utah Biodiesel Supply

This method will make approximately 35 to 45 gallons of biodiesel, depending on the quality of the oil used.

	1- Pouring Oil Into The Processor Obtain 150 liters (40 gallons) of used vegetable oil Pre-filter the oil by pouring it through a strainer Pour 150 liters (40 gallons) of the oil into the processor
	2- Heating the oil prepares it for the reaction Heat the oil to 120 Degrees Farenhiet Check the tempurature with a thermometer A candy or meat thermometer works just fine Recommendation: Don't use an open flame to heat the processor, fumes from the Methoxide used later may ignite--not pretty!
	3- Titration is the process used to see how much Lye to add to processor Items Needed: Distilled Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lye (NaOH), Graduated Eye-Dropper, Ph Meter, 2 Small Dishes, 1 Liter container Create Lye/Water Solution - Dissolve 50 mL of Lye into 500 mL of Distilled Water in the 1 Liter container - You won't use all of this solution for one batch, it's just convenient to have this much on hand - When you run out, just make some more Prepare Dish 1 - Place 5 mL of Lye/Water Solution into Dish 1 - Place 45 mL of Distilled Water into Dish 1 Prepare Dish 2 - Place 40 mL of Isopropyl Alcohol into Dish 2 - Place a 4 mL sample of the heated Used Vegitable Oil into Dish 2 - Mix the contents together, keeping the mixture warm, until the oil is dissolved thoroughly - Keeping the mixture warm and mixing will help to keeping the oil from separating - Check the Ph of Dish 2 using the Ph Meter Titrate The Oil - Drop 1 mL of solution from Dish 1 into Dish 2 - Measure and record the Ph Level of Dish 2 - Repeat until the Ph level jumps up 2-3 levels - You're looking for a Ph above 8.5 - As you add drops, the Ph will increase slowly (like from 7 to 7.5) - At one point you'll notice a larger jump (like from 7.5 to 9 or 10) - When it jumps 2-3 Ph levels, it means the oil has been neutralized Calculate Titration L = ((D / 4) + 3.5) * O D = Number of 1 mL drops placed in Dish 2 during titration O = Milli-liters of oil to be reacted L = Number of grams of Lye needed for reaction to occur -Record L for use in next step
	4- The Lye/Methonol Mixture - "Methoxide" WARNING: THIS STEP WILL CREATE TOXIC FUMES, PLEASE TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, DO NOT BREATH THE FUMES, WEAR GLOVES, AND BE CAREFUL Items Needed: Methanol, Lye, and (2) 5 Gallon buckets with lids Prepare Buckets - Clean both buckets out - Drill 1/4" hole in the center of each lid Prepare Methanol - Pour 15 Liters (4 Gallons) of Methonol into each bucket - Lightly place the lids on each bucket - Take care not to breath the fumes, they're poisonous Prepare Lye - Locate the L value from the Titration Step - Divide L by 2 to make GL - GL = Grams of Lye to use in each bucket - Measure out two sets of GL grams of Lye - Set aside for use when mixing with the Methanol Mix The Buckets - Remove the lid of the first bucket - Using a mixing stick, begin to stir the Methonol in the 1st bucket - While the Methanol is still spinning, add the premeasured Lye to the 1st bucket - Continue stirring the mixture for about 1 minute - Place the lid on loosely and allow to stand for a few minutes - Remove the lid and begin stirring again - Mix until the Lye is dissolved, approximately 10 minutes - Repeat the same process with the second bucket - Take care not to breath the fumes, they're still poisonous
	5- Pouring "Methoxide" Into Processor Ensure Oil in Processor is at 120 Degrees Farenhiet (or slightly above) Remove the lids from each bucket Carefully pour the contents into the processor Again, take care not to breath the fumes, yep, still poisonous
	6- Mixing The Oil causes the chemical reacation to occur Mix 5 Minutes, Wait 10 Minutes Repeat 4 times (Approximately 1 Hour Of Mixing)
	7- Allow Oil To Separate Let the mixture sit for at least 8 hours This allows for the Biodiesel and Glycerin to separate The Biodiesel will rise to the top while the Glycerin will fall to the bottom Between the Biodiesel and Glycerin layers may be extra residue, usually soap If this occurs, it means a little too much Lye was used
	8- Remove Glycerin Layer Remove the Glycerin (and Soap) layer(s) from the Processor All that should be left in the processor is the unwashed Biodiesel layer Dispose of the Glycerin that was drained off Glycerin can be used as a degreaser, and also can be made into soap
	9- Washing The Biodiesel Washing can be done using a water mister and a bubbler Misting - Using a light-mist, add 15 Gallons of water to the processor - Allow processor to sit for 10 minutes - Drain off water - Using a more agressive mist, add another 15 Gallons of water - Allow processor to sit for another 10 minutes - Do not drain the water, it will be used for the Bubbling Bubbling - Place bubbler at bottom of processor and turn on - Begin with a light bubble - Watch for emulsion to occur, if not occuring, turn up bubbler - Bubble Biodiesel for at least 24 hours - Turn off the bubbler
	10- Allow Water & Oil To Separate Allow Processor to sit for at least 8 hours This allows the water & oil to separate
	11- Remove Water Layer Drain off water layer into a container The water should be very clear If the water is not clear, rewash the Biodiesel again If the water is clear, proceed to the next step
	12- Transfer To Storage Container The container's should be able to handle Gasoline or Diesel, as Biodiesel has a similar chemical make-up. Drain the remaining Biodiesel layer into an open container Typically, this can be several 5 Gallon Buckets
	13- Allow Biodiesel To Dry This step allows all of the excess moisture to evaporate out of the Biodiesel. Place the open containers in the sun Place screens on top of the open containers Allow the Biodiesel to sit for about 8 hours The length of time will vary by outside tempurature and weather When it's dry, the Biodiesel should not be cloudy You should be able to see the bottom of the container When done, pour the Biodiesel into a storage container Store until ready to use
	14- Fill Fuel Tank Fill the fuel tank of any Diesel Engine Biodiesel can be mixed with regular Diesel Fuel in any ratio Once Biodiesel is in tank, you're ready to go NOTES ON USING BIODIESEL: - Biodiesel should be treated much like Diesel Fuel - Pure Biodiesel can be run in vehicles in tempuratures over 40 degrees Farenheit - In cold weather it can be mixed with Diesel Fuel in a 50/50 mixture to keep it from gelling - Biodiesel tends to loosen "gunk buildup" in Diesel Fuel Tanks - You may need to replace your Fuel Filter after a few tanks - Enjoy driving on a completely renewable resource!

Biodiesel Recipes

The method described above is just one of many way's to produce Biodiesel. Below are some links to additional methods for making Biodiesel.

• Kitchen-Biodiesel based off of Tilly's World Famous Dr. Pepper Method.
• Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial Great site teaches you how to make biodiesel.
• Basic Biodiesel Production Information from Journey to Forever. Good primer to go through before attempting to make biodiesel for your first time.
• Mike Pelly's Recipe from the Journey to Forever website. Seems to be a gold-standard for making Biodiesel among the community.
• Wikipedia Biodiesel Recipe Well written recipe for making a small batch of Biodiesel. I believe it's based off of Mike Pelly's recipe.
• World Famous Dr. Pepper Method - Part 1 Part I of a recipe for making a small batch of Biodiesel in a Dr. Pepper bottle. Followed by many the first time they make biodiesel.
• World Famous Dr. Pepper Method - Part 2 Part II for finishing up the batch made in the Dr. Pepper bottle.
• Dangerous Laboratories Great instructions for making a batch of Biodiesel for the first time. Complete with pictures and detailed instructions.

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BIODIESEL AND CHEMICAL HANDLING GUIDELINES (MSDS Sheets)

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),

Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards . GUIDE
• Soy Gold Biodiesel MSDS Soy Gold Biodiesel MSDS
• Iowa State University Methanol MSDS: Methanol MSDS
• Iowa State University Ethanol 95% MSDS: Ethanol 95% MSDS
• Iowa State University Sodium Hydroxide MSDS: Sodium Hydroxide MSDS
• Iowa State University Potassium Hydroxide 2M:Sodium Hydroxide MSDS
• Iowa State University Sulfuric Acid 18M MSDS: Sulfuric Acid 18M MSDS

Iowa State University Glycerine MSDS: Glycerine MSDS

Durco Biodiesel Equipment for Biodiesel Dry Washing & Filtration Systems

/PRZOOM - Newswire/ - The Durco Biodiesel Equipment range of biodiesel dry washing & filtration systems significantly reduces both biodiesel washing time and biodiesel plant start-up & operating costs compared to traditional water / bubble washing techniques.

Buffalo, NY, United States, 07/28/2007 – The Durco Biodiesel Equipment division of Ascension Industries Inc., has announced a new range of Biodiesel Dry Washing & Filtration Systems. The company actually developed these new biodiesel purification & clarification systems from their line of vegetable oil dry washing & filtration units that have been well proven in service since the 1970’s.

Michael DuVal (a Durco Filtration Applications Engineer) explained: “The new range of biodiesel processing equipment uses a 2-Step Magnesium Silicate Dry Wash & Filtration Process to purify and clarify biodiesel into high quality product (capable of meeting or exceeding ASTM-D6571 requirements) from a wide range of biodiesel from prepared feedstocks of; yellow grease, tallow, canola oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, waste vegetable oil (wvo), etc. Durco pilot plant filtration units are now openly available for performance trials at any particular biodiesel plant, in order to optimize a given producers process and verify the resulting biodiesel product specifications.

Unlike traditional water washing or bubble washing equipment, these new dry washing systems achieve highly efficient removal of contaminants found in preparations of methyl-ester (biodiesel). The systems utilize the “surface activity” and high surface area of magnesium silicate adsorbent powder to refine biodiesel containing residual glycerol, and other impurity components. The Filtration Step then removes the contaminated adsorbent and all other particulate down into the sub-micron particulate size range. The purified and clarified biodiesel product may then be sent for sale or storage, and the filtered particulate by-product may be utilized for fertilizer, animal feed, or various other environmentally friendly applications.”

The filtration step may use one of two proven filtration technologies:

- Biodiesel Filter Press Technology (<10mgal/yr,>

- Biodiesel Pressure Leaf Filter Technology (typically >10M gal/yr or much higher, with essentially unlimited high temperature capability for enhanced biodiesel washing).

A wide range of suspended solids (typically 0.5-2% by weight) may be removed, with the optimum choice of filter technology depending on the size of the biodiesel production operation, and several other process factors. Fully automated operation and an optional fail-safe filter station are also offered. Extended solids capture is additionally possible, using downstream Tubular Filter Technology. Durco Biodiesel Dry Washing & Filtration Systems reduce overall biodiesel production time and cost because they eliminate the need for an oil/water emulsion gravity settling stage or a drying stage. This also significantly reduces biodiesel plant start-up and operating costs by eliminating the capital and maintenance associated with the traditional washing equipment.

Another major benefit of these highly efficient biodiesel processing systems is that they do not produce water effluent waste streams, which are hazardous by-products of traditional biodiesel washing & drying techniques.

Durco Biodiesel Dry Washing And Filtration Systems are offered as complete turnkey packages, although individual filter units are also available. These operator-friendly systems can be rated for both ‘non-explosion proof’ or ‘explosion-proof’ areas, and may be configured for either continuous or batch processes.