Biodiesel

From Field To Fuel

Lance Hall
Biodiesel Basics
 What is Bio- diesel?
Biodiesel is a renewable resource based
fuel for use in Diesel engines.
It can be made from various oils including
corn, soybean, canola, cottonseed,
peanut, etc. and from animal fats.
A more scientific term is Fatty Acid Methyl
Ester (FAME).
 What is Bio- diesel?
The oils and fats contain triglycerides
(TGs) that are chemically converted into
FAME by a process called
transesterification.
The fuel produced is more environmentally
friendly than petroleum diesel (dino-
diesel).
 Drawbacks of Using Biodiesel
Will VOID warranty on most new vehicles
Cold weather causes the biodiesel to gel
at a higher temperature than dino-diesel
A blend of Biodiesel and dino-diesel should
be used in colder weather
Additives used currently in dino-diesel may
have little or NO effect on 100% biodiesel
Will clog injectors in less time
Tax Issues
 Benefits of Biodiesel
Less dependant on oil, domestic or foreign
Renewable, from soybeans in the US,
canola in Canada, rapeseed in Europe,
palms in Indonesia many sources in
many places
Once properly processed, it is GRAS
(Generally Regarded As Safe)
Helps the engine with its lubricative
properties
 How to Use Biodiesel
Just like regular Diesel Fuel!

Modifications to engine:
Possibly replace rubber hoses with synthetic
lines on older vehicles.
Otherwise, generally none.
Biodiesel Safety
 First Step is Knowledge
Knowledge of the potential hazards
Knowledge of the chemicals, READ ALL
MSDSs!
Knowledge of your own capabilities, know
your limits of time, space, money, physical
and mental capacity.
Knowledge of the process
 Safety Concerns
An alcohol MUST be used in the reaction
Methanol (Methyl Alcohol)
Less expensive, more poisonous
Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol)
More expensive, less poisonous
Both alcohols are HIGHLY FLAMMABLE!
NO Smoking, open flame, sparks or other
heat source!
Rinse exposed areas with water
 Safety Concerns
Typically a catalyst is used to aid the
reaction.
Catalyst are generally either Sodium
Hydroxide (NaOH) or Potassium
Hydroxide (KOH).
Both can cause severe burns when in
contact with skin, eyes, etc.
Rinse exposed areas with copious amount
of water
 Safety Concerns
The oil can be a danger, an oily floor can
cause serious danger.
If oil is spilt, clean immediately with soap
and water
 Methanol Hazards
Read MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)
Hazards include, but are not limited to:
Blindness
Death
Is readily absorbed through the skin, you
dont have to drink it to suffer the effects!
 Catalyst Hazards
Both common catalysts are very strong
bases (alkaline).
Both are very strong corrosives, will cause
steel to rust very quickly.
Both are caustic, will burn living tissues if
not washed thoroughly and immediately.
 Safety Equipment is A MUST!
Wear Personal Protection Equipment
(PPE) when handling the hazardous
materials mentioned previously
Gloves
Apron
Faceshield
Respirator
Fire Extinguisher
Making Biodiesel
 Basic Steps for Biodiesel
Collect Oil
Strain Oil
Heat Oil
Filter Oil
Titrate Oil (if using WVO)
Mix catalyst and methanol (methoxide)
Mix methoxide and oil
Let biodiesel and glycerin separate
Decant glycerin layer
Recover Methanol from biodiesel, if possible
Wash biodiesel
Dry biodiesel (Let water settle or evaporate out)
Filter biodiesel
Recover Methanol from glycerin, if possible
Find a good way of using or disposing glycerin
 Basics of Biodiesel Chemistry
O O
|| ||
CH2 - O - C - R1 CH3 - O - C - R1
|
| O O CH2 - OH
| || || |
CH - O - C - R2 + 3 CH3OH CH3 - O - C - R2 + CH - OH
| (Catalyst) |
| O O CH2 - OH
| || ||
CH2 - O - C - R3 CH3 - O - C - R3

Triglyceride Methanol KOH/NaOH Biodiesel Glycerol

 Biodiesel Production Methods
For the homebrewer
Common Base-Catalyzed Reaction
Two Stage Base-Catalyzed Reaction
Acid-Base Reaction

Advanced Methods
Supercritical Methanol Reaction
Other Continuous Processes
 Your First Batch
Make a small batch using virgin oil.
Recipe:
Heat one quart of the oil of your choice to
approximately 120F
Mix 5 grams (0.176 oz) of NaOH or 7 grams
(0.246 oz) of KOH in one pint (18%-25% of
the oil volume) of Methanol. Make sure the
catalyst is completely dissolved.
Add Methoxide to oil and stir using stir plate
or blender for 10 minutes
 Demonstration #1

Making Biodiesel with Virgin

Vegetable Oil
 Your First Batch
After mixing, leave it alone for an hour!
If the steps were performed correctly there
will be a layer of glycerin on the bottom of
the glass, you may need to look closely at
first to see it.
It should look like this.

Biodiesel

Glycerin

Sample of Olive Oil

 Washing
Washing removes soaps formed in the reaction,
excess catalyst and methanol.
Pour the half of the biodiesel into another similar
sized container, try not to pour any of the
glycerin in with it.
Pour an approximately equal volume of distilled
water in with the biodiesel and shake gently.
The biodiesel and water will eventually separate,
it may take days for the biodiesel to completely
clear, so be patient.
 Washing

Biodiesel on After Mixing Biodiesel and

top of Water water separating
Layers after Separation

Biodiesel
Soap Layer
(Very Thin
White Layer)
Water (and
more!)
 Drying the Fuel?
Drying refers to the removal of the water
suspended in the fuel.
Methods:
Waiting for the water to settle out and
evaporate out.
Bubble drying
Other more advanced techniques
Biodiesel should be a clear amber color
after drying and should be ready to use!
Using Waste Veggie Oil (WVO)
Pros
More Economical
Recycling

Cons
Finding a source can be difficult
Messy
Titration
 Titration
Necessary for determining the amount of
base required to neutralize the FFAs
created by cooking with the oil.
Assuming youre using the one step base-
catalyzed method.
Other methods may not use titrations!
Practice on a small quantity just as before.
 Titration Materials/Chemicals
Chemicals
WVO, of course
Isopropyl Alcohol (sold as Iso-Heet)
0.1% Titration solution
1 gram of NaOH or 1 gram of KOH in 1 liter water
0.03338 ounces of NaOH or 0.03338 ounces of
KOH in 1 quart of water
Phenolphthalene Solution
 Titration Materials/Chemicals
Materials
Syringe for WVO
Syringe for titrant solution
Burette is much more accurate
Syringe for Isopropyl alcohol
Small graduated cylinder is more accurate
Small jar or beaker to contain liquids
 Performing the Titration
Starting with the clean beaker (or jar).
Add 10 milliliters (0.338 fluid ounces) of
Isopropyl alcohol
Add 3-5 drops of the Phenolphthalene
Add 1 milliliter (0.0338 fluid ounces) of
WVO
Mix well until the oil is dissolved into the
Isopropyl alcohol
 Performing the Titration
Add 0.25 milliliters of titrant solution to oil
mixture
Mix well
Repeat previous 2 steps until the mixture
remains pink/purple for longer than 30 seconds.
KEEP TRACK OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF
TITRANT SOLUTION ADDED TO MIXTURE,
this number is the entire reason for performing a
titration!!
 Calculations
Start with either 5 grams of NaOH or 7
grams of KOH per liter of WVO

Add the value determined by the titration

Make sure you are using the same

catalyst as you used in the titration
 Example #1
Youre oil is in relatively good condition and the
WVO titrated to 1.25 milliliters of titrant solution
and youre using KOH

7 grams + 1.25 grams = 8.25 grams per liter

So, for 10 gallons (37.8 liters)

8.25 grams per liter multiplied by 37.8 liters means

a total of 311.86 grams of KOH will be mixed
with the methanol
 Example #2
Youre oil is in relatively bad condition and the
WVO titrated to 4.75 milliliters of titrant solution
and youre using NaOH

5 grams + 4.75 grams = 9.75 grams per liter

So, for 20 gallons (75.6 liters)

9.75 grams per liter multiplied by 75.6 liters means

a total of 737.1 grams of NaOH will be mixed
with the methanol
 Your First WVO Batch
Perform same steps as before with 1 quart
of strained WVO instead of virgin oil.
Use value from titration for amount of
catalyst to mix with the pint of methanol
Remember to use consistent units.
 Demonstration #2

Making Biodiesel Using WVO

 Biodiesel Calculator
1 Enter assumptions and values here
NaOH the b ase amount of catalyst needed 5.00
KOH the b ase amount of catalyst needed 6.50
Methanol use this much methanol for each unit of oil 20.00%

2 Pick your catalyst

KOH 6.5 grams per liter of oil
Purity of your catalyst 98.0%

3 Titration values
Enter the value you determined by titration 1.75

4 How much oil you'll use

I'm going to use this much oil 30 Liters Gallons

5 So, here's what you'll need

Liters or, the equivalent in gallons
METHANOL 22.71 6.00

Grams or, the equivalent in ounces

KOH 956.0 33.75
So, Youve Made Biodiesel

Next Step, Build a Reactor!

Building a Biodiesel Reactor
 Building a Reactor
Generally at least two vessels.
Main reactor vessel
Methoxide vessel
Methoxide is an errant term used in the biodiesel
community and refers to the mixture of methanol
and catalyst. True sodium methoxide is a very
dangerous chemical that is used in the industry
and provides better reactions.
 Building a Reactor
Pump(s)
Hoses, fittings, hose clamps
Valves
Oil source for Waste Veggie Oil (WVO).
Thermometer capable of reading over 120F

The sky is the limit for the reactor, but maybe not
the oil supply.
 Other Equipment
Oil Heater
Titration equipment
Syringes
Burette*
Phenolphthalene Indicator Solution
Isopropyl Alcohol 99%
Scales to weigh Catalyst
Magnetic stirring hot plate* or blender
 The Main Reactor
60 Gal. Full Drain

Polyethylene

With Stand ~$225

 Methoxide Tank
15 Gallon

Polyethylene

With Stand ~$100

Notice 12V
Automotive Style
Methanol-safe fuel
pump in top left of
picture
 Pump(s)
330 Gal. per Hour

1 NPT Fittings

Cost: ~$25.00

Power Switch
 Hoses, Fittings and Clamps
Water resistant Polyurethane 1 ID Hose
Cost: ~$3.44/Ft

Nylon or PVC* 1 Barb fittings

Cost: Various

Stainless Steel worm-drive clamps

Cost: ~$7 per 10-pack
 Valves
1 Brass Ball
Valves

Male NPT to
Female NPT

Cost: ~$16 each

 Heaters
In-Line Model
High Watt Density*
Added Switch for
Convenience
Cost: ~$300.00
Care must be taken
to turn Heater off
when there is no
flow of fluid!
 Filtering System
You cant filter too
much
For WVO: 200 micron
heated recirculation
200 micron filter
followed by 100 bag for WVO
micron in storage
tank.
For Biodiesel: 25
micron recirculation
followed by 1 micron
in storage tank. 100 micron filter
bag for WVO in
storage tank
 Titration Equipment
Burette

Isopropyl Alcohol
Titrant Solution

Beaker

Phenolphthalene
Syringe Solution
Magnetic Stirring
Hot Plate
 Scales
Electronic Scales

Resolution of 0.01
grams

Cost: Varies
 Magnetic Stirring Hot Plate
8 x 8 Surface

Stir and heat controls

Teflon Coated Stir

Bars

Cost: Varies
 My Car
2003 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI
TDI is an acronym for Turbo Direct Injection
90hp/155ft-lb 1.9L 4 cylinder engine with
5-speed manual transmission
46-48 miles per gallon on either fuel
I drive 70 miles per day or about 2000 miles
per month less than 50 gallons of fuel per
month
 Helpful Literature, Websites
www.journeytoforever.org

How to make Biodiesel by Carter & Halle

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/document_database.html,
search biodiesel in the keyword box

Biodiesel-O-Matic calculator from

http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/recipecalculator/biodiesel-o-
matic.xls

Converter - Unit converter program from

http://joshmadison.com/software/convert/download.php

The internet is a valuable resource, but use discretion.

 Extra Tax Info
Biodiesel IS Taxable if used on public highways!
Must be licensed and bonded! (Minimum $1000 Bond)
Good news: once you are licensed and bonded then you can also sell to other
individuals.

Alabama Department of Revenue

Sales, Use & Business Tax Division
Motor Fuels Section
P O Box 327540
Montgomery, AL 36132-7540
(334) 242-9608 Phone
(334) 242-1199 Fax

Steve DuBose, Manager

Motor Fuels Section

http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/motorfuels/index.html