Katerina Swanson
Biodiesel is a cheaper and greener alternative to diesel fuel. It can be used in boilers, furnaces, and diesel engines. Biodiesel is made from biodegradable materials such as vegetable oil, which can be sourced from waste oil. The process of making biodiesel involves using a catalyst, such as lye, and an alcohol, such as methanol, to convert the vegetable oil into fuel. This process requires safety equipment, such as respirators, goggles, and chemical-resistant gloves, due to the presence of harmful chemicals. Before use, the biodiesel fuel must be washed to remove any remaining waste products.
Characteristics and Values of Making Your Own Diesel Fuel
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Fuel | Biodiesel |
| Use | Can be used in boilers, furnaces, oil-fueled lighting equipment, diesel engines |
| Ingredients | Waste vegetable oil, methanol, lye, water |
| Equipment | 50-100 gallon tank, battery-powered fuel pump, respirator, lab goggles, chemical-resistant gloves, oral syringes, filters, buckets |
| Process | Filter and dewater oil, test for PH level, wash fuel, dry fuel |
| Cost | $0.80 per gallon |
| Caution | Highly caustic, can cause extreme irritation, toxic nerve agent if mixed with catalyst, potential fire or explosion hazard |
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What You'll Learn
Sourcing waste vegetable oil
One of the best ways to source waste vegetable oil is by collecting used cooking oil from restaurants. When approaching restaurant staff, it is important to be friendly and upbeat, offering to take the oil off their hands at no cost. This will put restaurant managers at ease and make them more likely to provide you with the vegetable oil you need. It is important to ask if the oil is indeed vegetable oil, as some restaurants use liquid shortening or animal fat grease, which are less reliable for good biodiesel reactions.
Once you have sourced your waste vegetable oil, you will need to filter and dewater it to remove any junk particles and water. This can be done using a swimming pool filter at a micron level that is appropriate for the temperature at which you will be using the oil. For example, at 18°C, you can use 50% of the mixture, but at lower temperatures, you will need to use a lower percentage of the mixture to prevent the fuel from waxing and blocking your vehicle's fuel filter.
It is also important to note that biodiesel made from waste vegetable oil may require some modifications to your vehicle, such as separate tanks for diesel and vegetable oil, heaters for the vegetable oil, and changes to rubber seals and hoses. Additionally, biodiesel used on public roads may be subject to federal, state, and local taxes, just like petroleum diesel.
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Filtering and settling the oil
Firstly, it is important to let the oil settle for a sufficient period. Depending on the oil type and quality, this could range from a week to several months. During this time, gravity will cause the impurities and water to separate from the oil and settle at the bottom of your container. The longer you let it settle, the more impurities will be removed, so be patient!
After settling, you will notice several layers in your container. The bottom layer will be dirt and solid contaminants. Above this, there will be a layer of water. Then, there may be a layer of mayonnaise-like substance, which is an emulsion formed when oil and water mix. Finally, at the top, you will have the good oil that you can use for your diesel fuel.
Carefully drain off all the settled contaminants, water, and emulsions until you reach the good oil. Be sure to stop draining before you get to the oil layer to avoid wasting any of your valuable fuel. This process may need to be repeated several times to ensure all contaminants are removed.
Once you have drained off the contaminants, you can now filter the oil to remove any remaining small particles. There are various methods for filtering, depending on your resources and budget. Some people use a waste vegetable oil processor with a centrifugal filter, which can achieve filtration down to 2 microns. Others use a transfer pump with a micron filter and a magnet at the bottom to catch metallic particles. If you are on a budget, you can even use layers of denim cloth wrapped around the transfer hose as a pre-filter, although this may not be as effective as the previous methods.
After filtering, your oil is now ready to be used as diesel fuel. However, it is important to note that even after filtering, your oil may still contain small amounts of water. Water in biodiesel can lead to biological growth and corrosion of engine components. To mitigate this, ensure you frequently change your fuel filters and consider adding bioethanol or white spirit to your oil to help with water separation.
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Mixing with methanol and lye
Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum diesel and can be used as fuel in diesel engines. It is made by chemically reacting vegetable oil or animal fat with alcohol, usually nearly pure methanol, and a catalyst such as lye. The process of converting vegetable oil into biodiesel is known as transesterification.
Waste vegetable oil (WVO) can be collected from restaurants and used to make biodiesel. However, it is important to get the restaurant's permission before taking their used oil. Most fast-food restaurants burn their oil, which cannot be used to make biodiesel.
The first step in the process is to filter the oil. This can be done by letting it settle for a few days and disposing of the sludge that settles at the bottom or by using a filter. The oil is then heated to 120°F (49°C).
The next step is to mix the methanol and lye. Methanol is a harmful alcohol that can cause blindness or death if ingested. It can be absorbed through the skin, so it is important to wear chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection, and a respirator when handling it. The lye, or sodium hydroxide, acts as a catalyst in the reaction and helps to break down the vegetable oil. It is extremely corrosive and will cause extreme irritation if it comes into contact with the skin, eyes, or any other part of the body.
The calculated amount of methanol and lye are mixed together, usually inside a tank to prevent spills. This mixture is then added to the heated oil and agitated for an hour. The oil will undergo transesterification and convert into biodiesel.
The mixture is then allowed to settle for a few hours, after which the glycerin, a byproduct of the reaction, can be drained from the bottom. The glycerin will appear as a thick, black goo, and once it has been drained, a thin, clear, amber liquid, the biodiesel, will be left.
It is important to note that making biodiesel involves dangerous chemicals and can be harmful if not done correctly. It is recommended to carefully research the process and take appropriate safety precautions before attempting to make biodiesel at home.
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Washing the fuel
Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum diesel. It is a permanently thinned plant- or animal-based oil, with a viscosity approximating that of standard No. 2 diesel fuel. Biodiesel can be used in boilers or furnaces designed to use heating oils or in oil-fueled lighting equipment. It can be used on its own or blended with petroleum diesel.
Washing biodiesel is easy to do and requires only water and time. However, it is important to note that unwashed biodiesel will not meet ASTM standards. The purpose of washing biodiesel is to remove impurities, including unfiltered particulates, methanol, and glycerin. Some sources encourage using unwashed biodiesel because washing biodiesel is a time-consuming process.
To wash biodiesel using water, slowly and gently add water to your bottle of biodiesel until it is full. Allow the water to settle to the bottom and then use the same technique used to remove the glycerol. Covering the mouth of the bottle with your thumb, invert the bottle, allow the water to settle, and then drain it off using your thumb as a release valve. Be sure to wear gloves. Repeat this process, letting the air pump run longer during each washing cycle, until the water remains clear. If bubbles cause foam to form, use less air.
After the biodiesel is washed, it should be dried until it is crystal clear. This can be done by letting the biodiesel sit uncovered in a sunny location for a few days, or it may be heated to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit for a few hours. Another popular technique is recirculating the biodiesel from the bottom of the drying tank through a showerhead or sprayer suspended above the top of the open tank. This increased contact with air will dry biodiesel in about an hour, depending on humidity.
It is important to note that biodiesel should not be used in a car until it has been washed and dried. Additionally, biodiesel used on public roads is subject to federal, state, and local taxes, just like petroleum diesel.
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Using a two-tank system
One of the most popular methods for making your own biodiesel involves using a two-tank system. This method typically involves using one tank for standard diesel and the other for vegetable oil.
The tank containing standard diesel is used for starting the engine and for the final three minutes before stopping the engine. This ensures that normal diesel is kept in the engine during stops, preventing your injection system from clogging. The other tank contains vegetable oil, which needs to be heated before entering your fuel system to ensure viscosity.
Before installing a two-tank system, you will likely need to change all the rubber seals and hoses that contain or transport the vegetable oil. It is also recommended to do 20% of your travels with vegetable oil during the first two weeks, gradually increasing this number until the diesel is only used for starting and stopping.
You will need to frequently change the fuel filters during this transition, as they may become clogged. Additionally, it is important to note that some things, when mixed with vegetable oil, can precipitate a sort of varnish that can lock up pumps and injectors, so thorough research is necessary.
There are various methods for plumbing the two tanks together. One approach is to use a Y connector to join the supply lines, return lines, and vent lines between the two tanks. This design allows for equilibrium, ensuring the fuel level remains the same in both tanks. Another method involves adding a tube between the two tanks at their lowest level to maintain an equal amount of fuel. However, this setup may create a potential snag point when navigating rough terrain.
A manual dual-port valve can also be installed to switch between the two tanks, such as the Groco FV-6-5038 bronze 6-port marine valve. This valve can be mounted under the cab, with the lever accessible through a rubber grommet in the cab floor.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need waste vegetable oil (WVO), methanol, and either NaOH (lye) or KOH as a catalyst. You can collect WVO free from restaurants, or you can grow soybeans or canola to press your own oil. Methanol can be purchased at many chemical supply places.
You will need a stainless steel reactor tank, a wash station to remove coproducts, and containers for storing the resulting fuel. You will also need safety equipment, including chemical-resistant P100 respirators, lab goggles, and chemical-resistant gloves.
First, you will need to test your waste oil using a process called titration, which involves accurately measuring and mixing samples according to specific instructions before testing the resulting sample's pH level. This will give you the exact weight of lye your batch of waste cooking oil will require to convert to biodiesel. Next, mix your oil, methanol, and lye, and add water to remove any remaining waste products. Then, boil off any leftover methanol. After 12-14 hours, the glycerin byproduct will separate out. Open the valve nearest the tank and make sure the valve on the other side of the drain is closed, then slowly open the drain valve and drain the glycerin into a bucket. Once the colour changes, you've reached the fuel, so drain this into a separate container. Finally, wash your fuel before putting it in a car.
