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Step 2Necessary supplies
Before you make the fuel you need to filter your oil. I filter mine down to 50 microns. I know people who don't filter at all and some people who filter as fine as 10 microns. One person I know simply lets it settle for a few days and disposes of the sludge that settles on the bottom.
To filter it I just hung a bag filter above a clean 5 gal. bucket. I used an old sock to get out the large particles before it went through the filter.
For the actual making of the fuel you will need:
- an appleseed processor
-WVO (you'll get as much fuel as the amount of WVO you use)
You can get this from restaurants, but you need their OK before you take it. You will get arrested and get in a pile of trouble if you just take the oil. Avoid burnt oil, as this will not react to make biodiesel. Most fast food places burn their oil.
-A catalyst: NaOH (sodium hydroxide) or KOH (potassium hydroxide)
The difference? well, KOH dissolves better in the methanol and NaOH tends to make the final byproduct (glycerin) more congealed. Also, you use different amounts depending on which you go with. NaOH is cheaper, and that's why I went with it.
-Methanol
Methanol is used for race car fuel, and can be purchases at many chemical supply places. This is the most expensive part of the process. Methanol is at about $5 a gallon. This still ends up being cheaper than regular diesel, since you add 20% methanol for the amount of WVO you use.
Safety equipment you'll need:
-chemical resistant p100 respirators
Got 2 at Lowes for $25-$30 each
-lab goggles
-chemical resistant gloves
What you'll need for the titration:
-Isopropyl alcohol
get this at an auto parts store
-distilled water
-a very tiny bit of your catalyst (NaOH or KOH)
-a sample of your WVO
-3 oral syringes
Get these at the drug store
-Phenol Red indicator (like for testing your pool water)
To filter it I just hung a bag filter above a clean 5 gal. bucket. I used an old sock to get out the large particles before it went through the filter.
For the actual making of the fuel you will need:
- an appleseed processor
-WVO (you'll get as much fuel as the amount of WVO you use)
You can get this from restaurants, but you need their OK before you take it. You will get arrested and get in a pile of trouble if you just take the oil. Avoid burnt oil, as this will not react to make biodiesel. Most fast food places burn their oil.
-A catalyst: NaOH (sodium hydroxide) or KOH (potassium hydroxide)
The difference? well, KOH dissolves better in the methanol and NaOH tends to make the final byproduct (glycerin) more congealed. Also, you use different amounts depending on which you go with. NaOH is cheaper, and that's why I went with it.
-Methanol
Methanol is used for race car fuel, and can be purchases at many chemical supply places. This is the most expensive part of the process. Methanol is at about $5 a gallon. This still ends up being cheaper than regular diesel, since you add 20% methanol for the amount of WVO you use.
Safety equipment you'll need:
-chemical resistant p100 respirators
Got 2 at Lowes for $25-$30 each
-lab goggles
-chemical resistant gloves
What you'll need for the titration:
-Isopropyl alcohol
get this at an auto parts store
-distilled water
-a very tiny bit of your catalyst (NaOH or KOH)
-a sample of your WVO
-3 oral syringes
Get these at the drug store
-Phenol Red indicator (like for testing your pool water)
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Jul 19, 2008. 4:07 AMbio Flossy
says:
Hi Drinkmore coffee, thanks for the info, by the way I was just joking about Mac Donalds!! In the UK you need a licence to remove waste oil from any where!! So I'm looking at alternatives, will let you know of any succeses. Thanks again.
Reply
Jul 17, 2008. 8:06 AMMatt D655
says:
actually isopropyl alcohol can be found at ur local pharmacy.
Reply
15
Jul 17, 2008. 12:32 PM
drinkmorecoffee (author)
says:
drinkmorecoffee (author)
says:
It can be, but the stuff you get at the pharmacy is by no means concentrated enough.
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