Prefiltering WVO

[KMott]

I am new to this and am currnetly getting everything together to start producing biodiesel. I have two 15 litre jugs of waste canola oil i got from a local mcdonalds. I noticed that there is a white layer at the bottom of the jug of waste oil. Should this be mixed up before filtering, or should it be left at the bottom and separated?

I noticed that the oil that is on the top seems fairly clean and thin, and when i mix it all together its much thicker. I assume the layer should be left out, but i want to make sure before i dump it into my WVO tank.



I am also looking for a source of methanol and lye to do a few test batches this weekend. I have a source of methanol in large quantities and have found lye at this address: http://www.braintan.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=KOH5lbs, but where can it be found in small quantites? Once i have this i will be ready to do a test batch.

Thanks for any help!

 

[The patriot]

I'm not experienced with WVO burning, but I'd tend to think the white stuff is moisture/water.

 

[Signal73]

put it in the sun or in a heated area and let all the nasties settle out. skim off the top what you can and dispose of the rest. that stuff at the bottom is what your trying to filter out so let it stay there. if you can find a pump to pump it out to that layer of nasty stuff it would be better then pouring it in and agitating it. I dont wash it first, just a cursory filtering then right in the tank. P-7100's..... I think you can burn crisco in them it seems lol...

 

[JFaughn]

with the process that your going to be using , there will be some fuel gotton from the white stuff , if you do a perfect job of making it that way and put into the frig. it will gell and look very similar .

 

[KMott]

Its only about an inch that settled to the bottom of each of the 15 litre jugs. Im thinking its probably worth just syphoning off the top layer. That bottom layer is almost like a solid, and even if it will make some fuel, im not sure if its worth all the hassle it might create, like having to use more NaOH becasue of high levels of FFA's. I guess when i do the titreation tests it will tell me if its good or not to have that crap in it.

From what i have read, 3. 5 grams NaOH per litre of clean veg. oil, and in the titration test, it will tell me how much more i need for the wvo. Basically the higher amount of crap in the oil the more NaOH is needed. So if the titration tests show less NaOH needed with the separated top layer, compared to with it all mixed up, then i know for sure that i should siphon off the top layer.

Does this sound right?



I found lye and methanol at the local tsc today and am currently brewing up two 1-litre test batches. I will let you know how it works tomorrow. Btw i am using new vegetable oil for these first 1 litre batches. The first bottle is already starting to separate, and the second is still in the blender. Thanks for the help!

 

[DFerverda]

Dont use a blender, and you should use 5 g/l NaOh. Start here.

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/719605551/m/857600061

Do your test batches. Ditch the junk on the bottom, just turn the jug upside down in the sun and after the junk settles to the bottom, crack the lid and let it out, or decant the good off the top.

All the info you need is right here.

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/498605551

Cruse the site and join so you can ask questions.

Good luck and be safe

This is also a great source of info.

http://www.b100wh.com/

Dirk