BioDiesel Production

Making Biodiesel Overview:

Biodiesel is a home made fuel for diesel engines.  Biodiesel is made by taking organic oil and chemically altering it through the use of a catalyst and methanol.  The chemical reaction breaks down the oil molecules and replaces the glycerin aspect of the oil with alcohol.  The glycerin sinks to the bottom of the liquid where it is drained. The result is biodiesel. The final step is to remove any impurities from the fuel by washing.  The great thing about biodiesel is that the car's engine requires no modification to use it.

Dangers:

The process of making biodiesel is the use of toxic chemicals.  A person can be seriously hurt or killed when working with these chemicals.  Keep a fire extinguisher handy when making fuel as you will be transferring highly flammable fluids and gases.  Work in a well-ventilated area away from pets and children.  Use safety equipment such as ventilation masks, flame retardant gloves and goggles. Check with your local government and/or fire department to ensure the making of such fuel and the storing of the chemicals is permitted in your area.  Despite the fact that biodiesel has been tested on thousands of vehicles, some manufacturers will still void any warranties of the vehicle with the use of biodiesel fuels.  Biodiesel itself is considered to be safe and non-toxic when spilled. 

 
The Production Process:

Chemically altering the molecular structure of any organic oil by utilizing alcohol and a chemical catalyst is very straightforward.  Organic oil is heated to a particular temperature and then mixed with the catalyst and alcohol.  The three components are blended for a certain amount of time before being allowed to settle.  The successful completion of the mixing process is a tri-layered liquid.  Biodiesel rises to the top (Ester as it is known chemically).  The middle layer is composed of soap and the bottom is glycerin.  Layering means its time to separate the biodiesel from the glycerin and soap.  The fuel is washed, either by mist-wash or bubble-wash, to remove any impurities and residual soap.  Dry the fuel to remove water and then circulate the fuel through fuel filters to ensure clarity.

Production Times:

People produce biodiesel in 20 to100 gallons batches as it takes approximately two to seven days to make.

 
An idea of productions times is as follows:

              Oil collection                                1 hour

              Oil filtration                                   1 to 2 hours

              Titration of oil                               15 minutes

              Oil transfer                                   15 minutes

              Heating oil                                     2 to 4 hours

              Methoxide production                  20 minutes          (methanol and catalyst)

              Mixing into oil                               30 Minutes

              Oil settling                                     8 to10 hours           (typically overnight)

              Draining glycerin and soap       5 to10 minutes

              Transfer to wash                          15 minutes

              First mist wash                             2 to 3 hours

              Second mist wash                       2 to 3 hours

              First bubble wash                        6 to 8 hours

              Second bubble wash                  6 to 8 hours           (typically overnight)

             Transfer to drying container        15 minutes

              Drying                                           Variable

              Storage transfer                       15 minutes

Equipment Needed:

Biodiesel can be made in a soda bottle. However the amount of time it takes to make the fuel warrants the purchase of the proper containers or processors specifically designed for the process.  The processing kits can be purchased on the Internet or made using diagrams and plans available online.  Professional processing kits can cost anywhere between $500 and $5,000.00.  Start by making a small batch on a soda bottle before attempting mass production.