Alcohol/alkaline method alternatives

[bighornram]

I've been making small batches using the alcohol/alkaline method and it does leave you with glycerol and wash water to dispose of. You also have to be certain to wash completely (especially with 3rd gens) and dry. I thought a thread on alternatives to this method would be productive.



http://www.hydrogenappliances.com/oilsys2.html



Thanks to JGann for this link. It sounds very easy as do some of the other additive methods.

 

[67guzzler]

I'm tempted by the low cost and the lack of harsh chemicals and simplicity. On the other hand we're dependant on them for the "Dual-Pole Resin Oil Processing Media. " They do claim it will last to process 50,000 gallons of oil. But I wonder how much of the glycerol and impurities will remove if it lasts that long. Will the final product really have all the water, acidity and glycerol removed to the same standard as the transesterification process with methanol and lye.



I like the idea that it's so simple tho. To get the oil to flow through the gravity system you have to cut the waste oil with 5% to 50% diesel before you even start the process, depending on the ambient temperature in your area and the quality of the oil you start with. Could you use biodiesel to cut the waste oil? That would be really nice but I doubt it.



The bottom line is that it's $500 and that's a lot cheaper than $3,000 for the traditional transesterification home machines. The question is whether it's any better than just cutting some waste oil with #2 D and then filtering it... .

 

[bighornram]

I'm tempted by the low cost and the lack of harsh chemicals and simplicity. On the other hand we're dependant on them for the "Dual-Pole Resin Oil Processing Media. "

Very good point!

I wonder how much of the glycerol and impurities will remove if it lasts that long. Will the final product really have all the water, acidity and glycerol removed to the same standard as the transesterification process with methanol and lye.

I'm not a chemist but the glycerol is created by a reaction with the fats in the oil and the methenol and lye so there probably isn't any glycerol. I'm thinking that the resin attracts the fats.

I like the idea that it's so simple tho. To get the oil to flow through the gravity system you have to cut the waste oil with 5% to 50% diesel before you even start the process, depending on the ambient temperature in your area and the quality of the oil you start with. Could you use biodiesel to cut the waste oil? That would be really nice but I doubt it. The bottom line is that it's $500 and that's a lot cheaper than $3,000 for the traditional transesterification home machines. The question is whether it's any better than just cutting some waste oil with #2 D and then filtering it... .

An Appleseed Reactor can be built for about $150 but then you need a scale and a washing tank and a drying tank which could potentially put the cost close enough to this system not to mention the added symplicity of this system. You also don't have the toxic glycerol and wash water to be careful with.

 

[67guzzler]

I'm not a chemist but the glycerol is created by a reaction with the fats in the oil and the methenol and lye so there probably isn't any glycerol.

Yup -- 100% brainfart on my part.



I was thinking about resulting bad bio made the transesterification method and how it can have left over glycerol and then mindlessly just threw that in there in the bag of problems I would worry about. Even though there isn't the chemical reaction and the exchange of molecules to create the glycerol, isn there still glycerin? My understanding is that it can be burned but if it's not removed viscosity is a problem -- maybe the 5% / 50% #2 diesel offsets this?

I'm thinking that the resin attracts the fats.

I bet it also attracts water too, no? I would hope it does at least.