Refining oil for biodiesel question?

Question

I've seen in magazines where people built their own refinery for making biodiesel. Anyone on here every actually done it? How hard is it to build and maintain? I have a diesel truck and access to all the used cooking oil I want from a local bakery... they only fry donuts in it so it's VERY clean.

Answer 1

I have done it... it is very easy, you need: methanol (wood alcohol), lye (sodium hydroxide) and waste vegatable oil...

the equipment is a corrosion ressistant drum, a paint mixer and a heater, and a filter made form any car air filter paper.... total time, about 8 hours, cost per gallon, about 20 cents...

Answer 2

It is not easy as they all say it, but never the less not impossible. The process takes time mastering and requires patience. If you actually are dedicated to this it is possible to setup a plant (it is not  a refinery in the actual sense a refinery is a place where they refine that is extract from a crude form here you are actually reacting chemicals to form it there is very little refining happening actually except for the washing) There are a lot of sources on the net having process to do this but my favorite is http://boilkerala.blogspot.com they have videos locations and a lot more information there and more over if you sauced in making it you can let the world know my submitting your own article there.

Now how to make it  you will find that information there.

how hard it is ... its not hard the fact is it is very simple but even though simple it takes time to perfect.

Now has anyone done it ? yes i have but no am not ruining my car on it (Indica diesel). Methanol is not that easy to get over here in the quantities required and ethanol is not legal to use over here in kerala so i can make it to run my car. the used oil can be used with no problem but you will have to remove particles etc from it other wise it can lead to bad quality or no diesel at all. Another problem you can face is disposing of the glycerin formed as a result of the process.

Answer 3

I personally am gravitating away from bio-diesel. The process for making it is pretty simple but the chemicals used to make it are dangerous and the by products left over from the process just generate another problem ( i.e useless waste products). I will now focus my efforts on refining WVO (waste vegetable oil) and burning it straight...the way Diesel himself did with virgin oil. It's mostly a matter of preheating the oil before introducing it into the engine. The Swedes are already doing this with tractors and have prototypes for automobiles.  I hope this helps and, thanks for wanting to do the right thing.

Answer 4

"YOU DON'T NEED TO REFINE ANYTHING ANYMORE" or to go crazy in a LAB.. just get the Kramer additive and you can drive with Mai's-peanut oil or just go to McDonald and get the old oil, use a filter, use Kramer, and have a nice clean drive.

Or just see: www.santanaeffect.com

Answer 5

I just made my first batch of biodiesel- it is not hard to do, this was made without a large processor.

There are many plans on the web to build your own. You will need to be very careful about the ethanol/ methanol and lye, both are very dangerous chemicals, you need to use protective gear.

Biodiesel- feed a farmer, starve a terrorist!!!!!

Answer 6

Only problem is that it takes more energy to refine the vegetable oil into biodiesel than you get after refining.