How do u make ethanol and biodiesel from scratch?

Question

im doing a research project on altenative fuels

Answer 1

Ethanol:

Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast

Let it sit

Distill it like 10 times

Biodiesel:

Blend vegetable oil and vodka in a blender

Blend for 5 mins

Dispose of the top white part

The bottom part is biodiesel

Answer 2

Generally ethanol is produced by the fermentation of grains.  This is a time proven method and people have been using fermented beverages for a long time.  Ethanol to be mixed with gasoline for gasohol (E10, E15, or E85) just requires distillation and then the removal of the last traces of water to allow mixture with petroleum products.  180 proof (90%) alcohol will burn in internal combustion engines  but requires some modification.

Biodiesel is generally the result of hydrolyizing fats or oils to remove the glycerol and then esterfying the long chain fatty acids with an alcohol like ethanol. Currently most of the biodiesel is coming from plant oils like soybean, sunflower, or canola oils.

Answer 3

It is not as easy as just pouring it into your tank. There are processes involving Lye and other chemicals to clean and stabilize the mixture.  

The show Dirty Jobs showed a fellow processing it perhaps you could get a video on that episode.