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How To Make Biodiesel
By Lakshmi Ramchander
Biodiesel can be used as diesel in any diesel engine where modifications are not needed. Diesel engines that use Biodiesel run better and last longer. The fact that Biodiesel can be easily made at home from the used cooking oil which happens to be a waste product at our homes makes us all the more interested in Biodiesel.
The effeiciency of Biodiesel is when it burns up to 75% cleaner than conventional diesel. It reduces unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, etc., and particulate matter in exhaust fumes, thus decreasing the environmental hazards. The potential of biodiesel emissions in case of ozone forming is nearly 50% less than normal diesel fuel. The fact that biodiesel is biodegradable makes it more environmental friendly.
Making biodiesel is as easy as making it in your kitchen. Biodiesel is much cleaner and better for the environment and better for health. Making Biodiesel from homemade oil is cheap and a good process of recycling a troublesome waste product.
The materials used in making biodiesel are common household chemicals. The main ingredient is Methanol, used as stove fuel, and Lye, which is also a commonly used substance in the household as a drain cleaner, both, are easily available in the supermarkets.
How to prepare Biodiesel? To make Biodiesel, take 1 litre of oil in a blender, add 200ml methanol and 3.5 grams of Lye and blend well. In case you do not wish to use a blender, the alternative method would be to use a PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate used as a plastic material) bottle. In the PET bottle take 1 litre of oil and warm it to about 55°C and pour it into the PET bottle. Then add 200ml of methanol to the same PET bottle followed by 3.5 grams of Lye and close the lid tight. Now shake the PET bottle vigorously for about 45 to 50 times. Stand this bottle in water at 55°C. Continue shaking every five min while maintaining the temperature at 55°C. This process needs to be done for about two hours.
In this process of preparing Biodiesel, all the triglycerides (the vegetable oils and animal fats have glycerine) turn into esters, separating out the glycerine. Thus the Biodiesel floats up of the mixture and can easily siphon out. The unwanted glycerine would settle at the bottom.
After preparing the Biodiesel you can check the quality of the Boidiesel using the following process.
How to check the Biodiesel Quality? Checking the quality of Biodiesel involves the following method. Take about 100ml of Biodiesel in a glass jar and add 100 ml of water, screw the lid tight and shake it vigorously for about 15 to 20 secs. Stand the mixture, allowing it to settle down. The Biodiesel would separate out as amber coloured solution on top while the water turns milky and settles below. Wash this and now you can use it.
After the washing process if you do not see the Biodiesel separate out and instead it turns into an emulsion then your preparation has not been successful. It is not quality fuel and your process needs improvement. There may be a possibility that you must have used too much catalyst or a poor or incomplete chemical reaction has taken place.
If the emulsion is thicker, then the mixture needs to be treated further. Add 10% methanol and the standard 3.5 g of lye per litre of oil. How to wash the Biodiesel? After Preparing Biodiesel you need to wash it before use to remove contaminants like soaps, excess methanol, residual lye, free glycerine and other contaminants.
This process of preparing Biodiesel is called trans-esterification. This chemical reaction involves the substitution of alcohol for the glycerine, while using Lye as a catalyst.
See Also:
Read in more detail how to make your own biodiesel
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