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What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a renewable biofuel that runs in diesel engines. It can be made from vegetable oil both new and used. It can also be made from other stuff but for the scope of this website we'll stick with vegetable oil and its derivatives. It's technical name is eith Methyl Ester - if made from methanol or Ethyl Ester - if made from Ethanol. Now if your thinking that these names sound like your grandmas' then your not far off. Biodiesel and vegetable oil have been in use in engines for donkeys years. The diesel engine, showcased by Rudolf Diesel at the 1905 Paris world fair was the first that proved that fuel could be ignited without a spark. His original engine was designed to run on Peanut oil.
Where do I get started?
If you like doing stuff and not reading stuff it might be difficult to get started. If you are like I was, I was itching to get started and wanted to "do" more than I wanted to read. There is a certain amount of base knowledge that you will need to aquire. I got this in just a few short week of late night and heavy reading. But you may not wish to. To be honest most of the time I spent was going back and forwards from Google, but the actual reading time was only probably a few nights.
Start here to get the basic jist of things.
This link outlines the basics of Biodiesel.
I don't want to read to much, what do I need to do?
Buy the safety equipment; gloves, safety glasses, and breathing apperatus. Get some clean vegetable oil, get some reactant; Potassium Hydroxide and methanol. Heat the oil (typically 1 Ltr of vege oil for a test batch) and mix the appropriate quantities of the reactants (200-250Mls of Methanol and 7 grams of Potassium Hydroxide or 5 grams of Sodium Hydroxide) and mix the ingredients. Wait 30 minutes and seperation will begin.
What do I need to do to my car?
Not much. If its a late 80's car or later you wont need to do anything except put a fuel filter in you fuel line between the fuel tank and the pump (or factory filter). If its a early 80's car or earlier you may need to replace your fuel lines as they may perish over time. You will still need to put a fuel filter in you fuel line between the fuel tank and the pump (or factory filter). This business with the filter is to catch any stuff the biodiesel removes from the tank and fuel lines that has accumulated over the years. It will need to be checked and replaced regularly when converting to Biodiesel or as a part of your normal car maintenence schedule.
I don't want to make Biodiesel I just want to use it.
Unfortunately at this atage there is no commercially made Biodiesel available in Qld. You will have to travel down to sydney before you will find bowsers with Biodiesel. Although there are plans for one to bu built in Narangbah in the near future.
OK I've done my first batch but nothing happened?
This process is actually very simple provided you have accurate measurements. Check you have accurately measured and weighed your quantities.
I've rechecked my quantities and still nothing is happening?
Ensure every thing is clean and dry, use clean vegetable oil and recheck your quantities accurately. Print out the procedure you are following and follow it step by step. Do not deviate from the procedure and you cannot fail. if you are still having problems.
What are reactants?
Reactants are stuff needed to convert one thing into another. For example yeast is needed to convert sugar into alcohol. Potassium Hydroxide and Sodium Hydroxide are reactants needed to convert Vegetable Oil into Biodiesel. Which leads us to our next question.
What is the difference between Sodium Hydroxide(NaOH) and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)?
Technically speaking I don't really know. But what I can tell you is that both are very caustic, they both will eat your flesh and the fumes are dangerous. So far as how they are used in Biodiesel production and the bi-products they form, KOH is much safer to use as the glycerine is far less toxic. In fact it can be used as a soap or a fertiliser after the methanol has been extracted or evaporated. I have started using my Glycerine as a hand wash after working on the car. Its amazingly powerful.
Some people say 3 grams of NaOH and 4.8 grams of KOH while others say 5 and 7 grams respectively. I'm confused?
There is in international standard for biodiesel called ASTM D6751. ASTM is an American standards body that defines standards for all sorts of things. Read here for a technical definition of Biodiesel and specifies how it must meet the ASTM D 6751 standard. Now using 3 or 5 grams of reactant will definately make biodiesel, but may not lead to full conversion and may not meet ASTM standards. 5 and 7 grams of NaOH and KOH respectively per litre of will come a lot closer to getting complete conversion and meeting the ASTM standard. Thats what that debate is about.
Why do people claim that Biodiesel clogs filters?
The short answer is that in a new engine (or more precisely a new fuel tank) it won't clog filters. The longer answer and the one that is more applicable for users who are "converting" to biodiesel is this. Over time Distillate will leave deposits in your tank and fuel line and as Biodiesel is mixed with this, it will quickly break it down and move it forward, typically towards yor engine. Please be aware that you must anticipate this when considering Biodiesel, but don't fear it. A filter is very cheap and easy to install and replace. You will usually only need it for 2-3 tanks of fuel depending on the blend of your Biodiesel.
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