Originally posted by jsimpson:
I keep seein stuff on diesels running clean and strong on hydrogenated peanut oil, soybean oil, even old used-up McDonald's french fry oil! I want to know more. Anybody got the straight skinny? (no pun intended)
Yeah its called biodiesel. I read about it in Hot Rod. Can be made from soybeans, vegetable oil or used fryer oil from mcdonalds. Supposedly it burns 75 % cleaner with almost no sulphur-dioxide emmissions. it contains higher levels of cetane and is said to lubricate better than conventional diesel. There are a few Europeans on the TDI roundtable that are experimenting with it in their VW turbodiesels.
Heres the recipe: taken from jouneytoforever.com
BIODIESEL FROM VEGETABLE OILS AND ANIMAL FATS
However, if you would like to try the reaction in your kitchen, here’s the recipe for a simple demonstration using common household chemicals.
REMEMBER TO HANDLE ALL CHEMICALS WITH CARE! While these are common "household" chemicals, the methanol will burn with an almost invisible flame, so extinguish all fires; the lye can burn your fingers or blind you. Read the warnings on the can! Making biodiesel on a large scale is a task for chemical engineers. It is a relatively simple process, but requires purification and washing to make a commercial fuel, especially if you use waste vegetable oil.
The reaction (transesterification) substitutes methanol (wood alcohol, dri-gas, ... . ) for the Glycerine in triglycerides (fats, oils) to make the methyl esters called biodiesel. It uses lye as a catalyst. A junior chemist might write it:
Triglyceride (fats or oils) + Methanol =====> Biodiesel + Glycerine (Lye catalyst)
The lye converts a small amount of the oil to soap. After the reaction is over, the Glycerine and soap settle to the bottom of the vessel and the biodiesel floats on top
Measure 500 ml (1 cup) of vegetable oil (cooking oils such as Mazola, New Maid etc. ) into a blender (or mixing bowl). (Most modern measuring cups show both ml and cups. ) Heat the oil to 120 F (not critical) using a cooking thermometer while carrying out the next step.
In a separate cup measure 85 ml of methanol. (The easiest source of methanol is Dri-Gas, obtainable from any automotive store. Be sure to get the cheap one - contains methanol -,, not the one containing iso-propyl alcohol. ) To this add 1/4 level tsp. of lye (sodium hydroxide). (Red Devil lye is carried by most grocery and hardware stores. ) Stir well with a wooden spoon, crushing as needed until all the flakes disappear. (The mixture will be slightly cloudy and is called "sodium methoxide". )
Add the methanol-lye mixture to the warm oil while vigorously stirring, using a mixer, paint stirrer (electric drill with propeller) or blender. Stir for 30 minutes. The mixture at first thickens, then becomes thinner than the original oil.
Allow the mixture to settle for a day in a tall thin vessel. The biodiesel floats to the top and can be poured off into a container for display. The glycerine and soap go to the bottom and can be discarded, (but can make a high glycerine soap). You have now made biodiesel on a small scale and can appreciate the use of renewable fuels from farms.
This clear biodiesel contains a very small amount of soap. If you want to use it in your diesel vehicle it would be of no consequence. However, if you want to make large quantities or for sale, European specifications require removal of the soap by washing or other effective means.
Do you want fries with that???
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1990 w-250 4x4 cummins 5. 9,NV4500,tweaked injection pump, 16cm2 turbo exhaust housing, 205hp 550ft-lbs to the rear wheels and a 4. 10 rear end
[This message has been edited by joesoot (edited 09-06-2000). ]
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