From Kevin Tidball

G’day to all out there,
It’s great to see the progress out there, I still have not read all the posts.
I got disillusioned with the word games and moved away from posting - now that was years ago – but we did not stop producing Bio!

Dave, (that’s my brother) produces approx 4000 – 5000 lt per year for the farm and truck use.

We don’t use the FATTA for large production, its too much work and time.
That was me experimenting and trying to convert tallow with reasonable yields.

There will come a day when this information will be useful – if every one is chasing mister deep fry for his oil, what next!

This is probably the wrong place, but a few hints from a old timer
(These hints are possibility else where in the forums but I’m too slack OR too slow to catch up on the reading)

1. Find the best used oil you can.
2. Let your oil stand after you get it. This allows the **** to sink to the bottom.
Don’t pour every thing into your vessel; leave the crap in the bottom of the drum.
3. Under 3 titration use as is, with a standard single pass process.
Yield to work load this is the fastest and most efficient for small scale production.
4. Let your processed Bio sit for 1-2 weeks before washing, this allows best separation.
5. Don’t make fuel in summer for winter. (You will save a lot for fuel filters)

The original work came from discussions between Michael and myself, with the posted FATTA method developing from experimentation. That does not mean it is GOSPEL.
Modify, test and verify – most of all post your results.

I’m an engineer, Michael had chemistry back ground, we worked well together.
For those that want to experiment, talk to people who can expand your knowledge and try to understand the next level above what you are doing.

Regards Kevin[LIST]

just out of curiosity did you read thru the acid/base recipes at the top of this forum?
did you see the simplified method?
the one that determines the amount of acid based on titration?

you might want to give that a whorl..

I know it works for me. I think I've 3 batches this year that would qualify as 'good oil'. and that's 3 out of 50

for the most part it sounds like most of your time is spent letting the fuel settle before you wash. I done with 3-5 batches( acid/base) in the amount of time you spend settling.

so maybe there's more to acid/base than you understand just yet.

-dkenny

dkenny

Read a little last night, some very good results. Seems we were a little light on with the acid for high FFA,s - something to try.

I'll be away at the farm for a couple weeks (not internet access) so no comm,s for a while.

Very interested in the 3/27 test will give that a go this week.

There is probably 1500 -2000 lt of old oil settling and between 300 – 900 processed Bio at any one time

We a moving toward SVO as I think our government will either want to tax us or make it difficult to get methanol. To get resumable prices you have to buy 800lt of methanol at a time.

For beginners to Bio production I’d suggest 1-2 lt tests, with both single stage and acid/ base before larger scale batches.

I’d like to read of any results of yield ‘v’ material cost comparisons for the various methods.
That’s what put me off originally with acid/base as I could not justify the higher methanol usage/costs, acid costs and time.

Now with the price of fuel well over $1.30 Aus per litre this could make high FFA oils more competitive.

Kevin

Kevin,
I glad to see that my strong reaction to your comment wasn't take badly.. Its just that I have made 2000 + gallons this year using acid/base processing.

yields - after getting the titration to a reasonable level (3-5 KOH), my yields have been on par with oil that initially titrates between 3-5. in otherwords starting with oil in the range of 7-27 can have the same yields as oil starting with 3.
of course there is the additional cost of the acid. other than additional processing time that is the only additional cost for oil that titrates up to 14 KOH, beyond 14 draining is necassary( at least that is what I have seen). if draining is needed than additional methanol is required. the methanol drained off should be recovered along with any excess in the BD and/or glycerine.

I only pay $17US/Gallon of H2SO4..

what do you consider high FFA oil?
is 80KOH or 44%FFA high to you?
personally I have never worked with oil this bad, but have heard from someone with used my method( FATTA derived) on oil this bad.

-dkenny

Welcome back, Kevin. I've had a lot of success with your method as well, and don't find it a hassle at all. Thanks for doing that work at that time.