Biodiesel and lard or Hydrogenated stock

[Dirk]

Is there any rule about using Hydrogenated oils or lard to make biodiesel? I'm having trouble finding info about it.

[korterman1]

all of the recipe's that i've seen only use vegetable based oils.

[Dirk]

I found some random info, but most of it isn't clear.

[Sciulli]

Originally Posted by dirk0

Is there any rule about using Hydrogenated oils or lard to make biodiesel? I'm having trouble finding info about it.

You can use it, but it will have terrible cold weather properties. You can use whatever you want to make the fuel, but your "lard" will need to be in liquid form. If everything tritrates low, your good.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by Sciulli

You can use it, but it will have terrible cold weather properties. You can use whatever you want to make the fuel, but your "lard" will need to be in liquid form. If everything tritrates low, your good.

Interesting. I just read that lard will be fine, as long as you separate the glycerin asap and then let it sit after another cycle and remove the glycerin again. It also said that lard works great in a B50 mix and to use it in warm climates. I'm in Texas so I think I'm good.

I have a donut shop that will give me all of there used oil. I looked at it, and it's a solid. It's not a "healthy" donut shop, but those Korean's SURE CAN MAKE A DAMN GOOD donut. It's better than Krispy Kreme.

[bradyracing29]

You can make biodiesel out of any triglycerides(fats and vegetable oils) If you eat bacon, save the grease in a jar. After you get a jar or two full, take one out of the fridge and put it in a pan of hot water to melt it. The water and solids will go to the bottom. Pour off about 500ml of the bacon grease, titrate, heat, and mix with the methoxide as you would with veg oil. I tried this about a year ago and the oil titrated at 3.25 and made the prettiest light yellow biodiesel you ever saw. And it doesn't go back solid at room temp like bacon grease would. Biodiesel out of 100% pig fat.

[jjdonovan]

Hello all,
Any plant or animal based oil is fai game to make biofuel. As previously mentioned by another poster, their methyl-ester based fuel will gel at higher temps.
If you do a web search for feedstock oil gel points you should find what you need.
Because you change the lard or fully hydrogenated oil into a methyl ester. The temperature that the fuel will gel lowers but can still be solid at 50-60 deg. F. So here in the northeast it would only be practical to use in the summer months or as home heating fuel, if you tank is an indoor tank and warmer than the gel point of the methyl ester fuel derivative.
Best regards,
Joe.D

[Dirk]

Good info guys. Keep it coming! I'm trying to figure out how to build a biodiesel processor now.

[jjdonovan]

Hello all,
I just wanted to say too all especially dirkO. Do not let makeing Bio fuel try to overwhelm you....it is basic and easy but must be treated with respect!
Respect the chemicals that you use ,(Highly flammable,toxic with high exposure concentration and caustic) knowledgeable about the basic process.
But you can make fuel in something as simple as a 5 gallon jug, it is far far from rocket science.
But "SAFETY" should be the first thing thought about and practised with all chemical reaction to happen effiecently.
Knowledge of the process can be found at the bio forums on the web.
There alot of people out willing to help.
I have made approx. 600 gallons+ of bio....all just useing simple 55 gallon steel drums. No welded in bungs or standpipes complex PID,s or power supplies. Just basic pumps, screw in hot water heater elements, steel drums industrial sock filter etc.
My as yet online 80 gallon vertical processor, has PID ccontroller with 4 (J) type thermocouples for input temperature. Dual 5500 watt heating elements that are powered by a 80 amp SSR power controller. Dual air operated diaphragm pumps for mixing.A sealed methoxide injection cylinder. I Also installed a 3"X48" long condersor to extract the excess methanol for reuse.
This unit is completely sealed and vapor proof.
So here you can see two different extremes to make quality bio-fuel. One low teck, low buck and one low teck but high buck.
What you really need to make bio is :the desire, safe working area and the need to get GRUNGY and OILY DOWN and DIRTY!
Best Regards,
Joe.D

[Dirk]

I'm already starting to collect old oil. How long can it sit before turning it into biodiesel?