Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum banner

Easy Biodiesel Recipe

3K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  HunterJ 
#1 ·
Anyone got any easy Biodiesel recipe without lye? I just need something for demonstration not for use.

Or possibly substitute just so it looks like bio. :hehe:

Its for a Class Project and I was going to take a video of how I made it.
 
#4 ·
no way around it bud - sodium hydroxide (lye) or potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) are the only things that'll make the reaction happen. besides, lye is easy to get - it's even on ebay!

unless your assignment is due on monday, in which case TS. :hehe:
 
#6 ·
I dont think Drain O is lye, if it is it has water mixed with it, and the reaction will never happen, becuase the Methanol will absorb the water and wont react with the oil,

Methanol you can get in the Yellow HEET fuel additive. 22% of whatever oil you use.

Then for NaOH you can buy it at Lowes, Its ROEBIC crystal drain cleaner. Spoon in a few table spoons of lye with the methanol, shake it up until all the crystals dissolve, it will usually take a good 5-10mins and it will crate heat and pressure so be careful and crack open the bottle so it doesnt pop on you, then add oil, put it in a pot of water on the stove, and heat to 135 F for 10-15 mins, then shake it up and let it sit. It will separate for you, and the glycerin will go to the bottom. If you use too much lye it will just turn more oil than nessecary into glycerin.
 
#8 ·
Ethanol has been tried with limited results. The methanol is a solvent combined with the lye the break the chemical bonds to produce biodiesel and glycerin byproduct. You'll see reference to a solvent thinning process by the trade name of Diesel Secret, many people call this biodiesel , but is no way biodiesel. Diesel Secret involves veg oil, unleaded gasoline ,kerosene , Powerservice additive and the secret ingredient sold by Diesel Secret. I know of many people who have tried this and have minor problems like filter plugging to total engine failure.:doh:
 
#14 · (Edited)
yeah the big secret is, that s@&# don't work :hehe:

biodiesel can be made with ethanol, you just have to find "dry" ethanol which is hard to find it draws moisture faster than methanol.

methanol= metholester biodiesel

ethanol= etholester biodiesel

I actualy saw a processor on the enet a couple of weeks ago that made it's on ethanol and then used that to make biodiesel, that thing was neat as heck but very pricey
 
#16 ·
it looks like home depot here has it. so what sthe difference between the $8 32oz bottle and the $14 64 oz bottle? other than size all i see is they have different sodium configs: Model K-87-4 vs. Model K-37-H-3 in sure this will make a difference in the reation?
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top