test gone wrong?

[powerstrokin it]

I made a test batch of biodiesel. I heated new oil to 133 degrees Fahrenheit. I mixed rubbing alcohol with Lye to make methoxide. The directions said to add the methoxide to 1 liter of oil. I had about a half liter of oil. The mixture look cloudy on the bottom and dark on top instead of light on top and dark on the bottom like the directions said. I was just wondering if adding to much of methoxide is okay or does it mess up the diesel? I am new to this ,and my goal is within the next month to have biodiesel going in my rig.

[sea71]

Methoxide should be 20% of the oil you are converting, and the amount of lye you put in the methanol is determined by doing a titration. Sounds like you put a bunch of unmeasured methoxide in the oil.

Check out this site.

Getting Started - Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial

[powerstrokin it]

I used 5 grams of lye and 250 ml of rubbing alcohol as it stated. forne liter of new veg oil.
Thanks,for the site

[WildTaz]

[QUOTE=powerstrokin it;936393]I used 5 grams of lye and 250 ml of rubbing alcohol as it stated. forne liter of new veg oil.
Thanks,for the site[/QUOT

Assuming the oil was unused, it should have been 3.5 grams of lye (95% pure or better) and 200 ml of methanol (99% pure or better). Most rubbing alcohol is isopropal alcohol or is diluted.

[Clay Henry]

It seems with diesel under 2 bucks it would be hard to justify the time and cost of brewing Bio-D?

[Motown Fire]

Originally Posted by CHenry

It seems with diesel under 2 bucks it would be hard to justify the time and cost of brewing Bio-D?

Just wait a few months (if it even takes that long) fuel will be back up. Get your oil and bio processing down now and start stock piling it.

[BadAss01F250]

Originally Posted by powerstrokin it

I made a test batch of biodiesel. I heated new oil to 133 degrees Fahrenheit. I mixed rubbing alcohol with Lye to make methoxide. The directions said to add the methoxide to 1 liter of oil. I had about a half liter of oil. The mixture look cloudy on the bottom and dark on top instead of light on top and dark on the bottom like the directions said. I was just wondering if adding to much of methoxide is okay or does it mess up the diesel? I am new to this ,and my goal is within the next month to have biodiesel going in my rig.

Theres your problem, just get more oil and follow the directions

[WildTaz]

Originally Posted by CHenry

It seems with diesel under 2 bucks it would be hard to justify the time and cost of brewing Bio-D?

Diesel hasn't gotten that low in central NJ yet. With OPEC production cuts taking place this month plus outright greed, I wouldn't bet on the prices staying down. It currently costs me around $1.60 a gallon or so to make bio. Not a huge cost savings, but enough to justify keeping in practice for the inevitable price increase.

[hheynow]

Originally Posted by CHenry

It seems with diesel under 2 bucks it would be hard to justify the time and cost of brewing Bio-D?

Commercial B100 is currently $3.69 locally so I suspect the cost of methanol is still high. B100 prices have dropped 25% since July but diesel has dropped about 65%. I guess the bioD processors keep dropping their price to sell their product but they can't make a profit matching the low diesel prices.

[powerstrokin it]

Prices of diesel is $2.15 here bottom dollar. I am making it for a hobby. The fuel is also greener and better for my rig. I know I added to much methoxide ,but does that hurt the fuel?