This is the first big batch I tried to make and all I have in my wash stand is caramel colored liquid that doesn't seem to react to a wash either of the 3 times I tried. I started out with 25 gallons of WVO, titrated at .5, added 430 grams of NaOH to methonal warmed to about 120 degrees, mixed methoxide with for 2 hours. Drained about 4 gallons of glycerine off and transferred to wash stand. Put garden hose on shower and put about 10 gallons of water in. Let sit overnight and drained wash water off and got white soapy goo with water. Washed again with mist this time, let sit for 4 hours and it doesn't seem to have changed clarity at all. Can someone help me out? I thought it had emulsified, tried the salt trick (not much-1 tsp.) and didn't seem to make a difference. Please help a newbie out if possible!! What am I doing wrong?

Hello 2001HD, welcome to the forum!

It would be very helpful if you posted all quantities in metric measure.

Your 25 gal of wvo is either 94.6 or 113.7 litres depending on whether you are talking imperial or US measure
I am guessing it is 94.6 litres
That means you used about 4.5g NaOH per litre of WVO.
You should have used 5.5g NaOH epr litre of WVO or about 520g NaOH for the batch.
If you were using imperial gallons you would be even shorter on the "correct" NaOH amount.
Your first wash should be Very Gentle

You need to use a whole lot more than 1tsp of salt in 90+ litres of emulsion

So, what should I do with it? Is it safe enough to put back in the reactor and mix up another batch of methoxide with it? Or try dumping a bunch of salt (how much) in the mixture now? I tried pouring 5 gallons of hot water and let it sit overnight with no change. Also, the liquid in the wash stand smells sweet. Thanks for any insight.

Can someone give me some ideas? I heated it up to about 140 for a couple of hours and it seems to be losing it's orange color, but do I keep washing and heating it or throw it away and try a new batch? Could it be possible that the reaction wasn't complete? Thanks, Jess

I cant offer you much help on the fuel you have now other than to tell you to sit it aside in cubies and let it sit for a week or two to salvage whatever Bio out of it that you can off the top.
As far as avoiding this problem in the future, make sure you drive off all your methanol before you begin washing by heating it up and spraying it like you are dry washing fuel.
After you drive off the methanol, the soap will fall right out. The meth keeps the soap susspeneded until it is evaporated off.
Make sure the area you use to evaporate the methanol is WELL ventilated and avoid the fuems will doing this.
Get the methanol out and your fuel will wash out crystal clear in about three washes with no White soapy mess.

Hello 2001HD

The first thing you need to do is break the emulsion.
Can you tell for sure that you still have an emulsion?

2001HD...

I don't think you have an emulsion. If it was, you'd have what looks like a barrel full of mayonnaise!!! Continue to try a few more wash cycles (use a bubbler if you have one) and see if the fuel clears up. With the reduced amount of NaOH you surely have an incomplete reaction.

Read up on the 3/27 test and perform this next time before moving your fuel to your wash tank. If it doesn't pass (or is at least marginal), then think about reprocessing.

Good luck,

Jim...

quote:

It would be very helpful if you posted all quantities in metric measure.

Tilly....I happened to run across a link for your "Chop Stick Titration Method" and you didn't mind asking for US $$$$$ for your rolyalities. It just doesn't seem right to have it both ways....

Jim...

PS - How's your weather down-under right now. It's hot and HUMID here in Las Vegas.

Ok, thanks guys. I will keep heating it up when I get home from work for 3-4 hours and see what happens. So, I guess from what you guys are saying is that I didn't use enough NaOH-I used 4g/ltr plus .5 titration and should have used 5g/ltr plus .5 titration-right? Thanks alot for helping me out.