Can biodiesel be made using ethanol instead of methanol? Since transesterification is the process of removing glycerin and adding an alcohol to the ester chain, it shouldn't matter whether or not ethanol or methanol is used, should it -- they both have a hydroxyl running off the alkane chain.

You are correct. There are differences in the process. Please check out this link. My friend Steve Spence did a good job of documenting this process.

http://www.green-trust.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ethyl_Esters

All the best.

Rich

I use nothing but ethanol in my process and am happy with the results

Indeed that is a nice documentation, but just to get this straight... I need 200 proof (which as I believe is nearly 100% pure, no dilution), a 3:10 ratio of ethanol to oil, 3.5 grams base NaOH for virgin oil, and 5.0 grams base NaOH plus the extra amount figured from titration for WVO? I don't like bothering or asking questions, but I figured I might as well support the farmers of America by using their ethanol.

Bothering and asking questions is why this forum is here. There are other threads on this forum for using lower grades of ethanol and drying it with various agents. Also remember that was a 500ml batch so it is 7 grams per liter.

One thing in defense of methanol... I agree with supporting the farmers. Man I would like them to be our energy suppliers!

One thing that is good about methanol is that it can be made from composted wood materials. It is actually called wood alcohol. One way we know that methanol is toxic is that “moon-shiners” who are not careful to dump out the methanol that is formed on the top of their grain alcohol go blind and suffer other toxic effects. Seattle actually has a program where municipal wood refuse is used to produce methanol. Of course most methanol now is produce from petroleum sources. Did you know that ethanol can be made the same way? Methanol is only toxic to primates (so keep monkeys clear but you can get your dog drunk) Toxic effects aside, methanol can be a sustainable way of making biodiesel.

Best of luck on your quest,

Rich

I knew that wood alcohol was another "street name" for methanol, but I didn't know that ethanol could be made in a similar fashion. What I have noticed, though, is that 200 proof ethanol has a trend of being much more expensive or am I not looking at the right distributor?

Ethanol is almost always more expensive. That is why commercial producers always use methanol.