I want to try the GL method instead of washing with water. For test purposes I do not intend to recover the methanol. I will be heating in an insulated barrel with lid on but vented to the outside. What temp will get the job done and how long do I go?

I usually don't even heat. Just 70-80F for 3-4hrs usually gets the job done with a good fan spray of fuel back into the tank on a circulating loop.

If I'm trying to pull it off in cooler weather, then I'll throw a heater spear in and warm to 55-65F and let it run longer...say 6-7hrs.

The real test is to pull a 100ml sample and warm it to just over 150F...if it never bubbles, then the methanol is gone. If it bubbles, keep evaporating until a pulled sample doesn't bubble.

Ryan is your tank open to the outside? I'm wondering if a lid on top with a vent hose slows the process down.

quote:

Ryan is your tank open to the outside?

It is, basically; it sits right next to the building door, and I only demeth with the door open and the exhaust fan pushing out. I'm currently only recovering the 2/3 of recoverable methanol that is in the raw glycerin. I anticipate recovering the other 1/3 from the biodiesel eventually, but haven't gotten there yet.

Yeah, I think the lid is going to slow you down, as the methanol will condense on the lid and drip back into the biodiesel. If you were able to keep the lid warm too, that would help.