Making Biodiesel At Home
Thanks to the non-toxic and very safe nature of biodiesel lots of people have started preparing it at home. But before you let go off the scientist in you, remember to be safe than sorry. So don’t forget to take the precaution of wearing gloves, apron and eye protection glasses. |
Sponsored Links :
|
Gather the ingredients required; vegetable oil, fryer grease, animal fats, lard, methanol and sodium hydroxide. Methanol is a dangerous compound so don’t let it come in direct contact with your skin. You will also need isopropyl alcohol, distilled water and Phenolphthalein solution. For washing, use vinegar and water.
Process Involved:
- Filter the vegetable oil. This is required in case you are using leftover oil from cooking. Filtration will get rid of any food particles in the oil.
- Heat oil to remove water content from it.
- Titrate to ensure how much amount of catalyst is needed. This is a very important step so perform it carefully.
- Prepare sodium methoxide but take care not to inhale it since it is harmful.
- Start heating the vegetable oil and slowly mix in sodium methoxide, stirring continuously.
- Allow this mixture to settle. Glycerin will be formed. Remove it.
- Wash the fuel with water. Do this at least twice so that any residue of soap is completely removed.
- Now check the pH of the fuel. This will give you the quality of biodiesel that you have prepared at home. A digital tester will also be able to determine the quality.
- For the last stage of filtration use a marine-type fuel filter. It is a transparent, plastic canister that will help see the clarity of the fuel.
More Articles :
|
Diesel and other fuels are composed of Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate or ZDDP which is found as a coating in the interior parts of an engine and performs the function of an antioxidant in the fuel. Care is taken that minimum fuel escapes the engine. However, a little quantity of fuel is lost via the exhaust system and combustion chamber. 
