Hi,

I'm trying to produce Biodiesel but with no heat at all.
I'm making small batches of Biodiesel from New Vegetable Oil. Instead of pre-heating I'm mixing it with an industrial blender machine.

I have the next question:
When I use the base amount of lye (3.5 gr of NaOH per liter of oil) and after letting the Biodiesel to settle for 24 hours, I performed a Methanol Test: This sample did not pass the methanol test, it only converted about 92% of the oil in biodieel.

So then I tried to make some changes in the production:
I varied the amount of methanol and lye. And if I add 5 gr of Naoh (instead of the 3.5gr) This time I did pass the methanol test, getting a 100% conversion rate.

How could this be possible? Adding more lye, helps the reaction/conversion?
How does the excess methanol or excess lye affects to the finished Biodiesel, if working with new oils.

Is it possible to get Biodiesel without heating?

Congratulations Ferzuga
In one Fell swoop you have once and for all laid to rest the ever recurring old wives tale that heat is required to make very high conversion biodiesel. Yep, as long as everything remains liquid then it is possible to make biodiesel of the highest conversion at almost any temperature.

And as an Added bonus you have confirmed Neutrals GC test results from about 5 years ago that a 5g "base" amount of NaOH per liter of oil reacted is required to produce ASTM conversion biodiesel.

Keep up the good work!

PS the 3.5g is long outdated. I bet you are reading the Journey to Forever site.

ferzuga, what is the methanol test? It's been known here for years that a minimum of 5 grams of NaOH is required to fully convert new oil. As to your question, perhaps it's not possible to make biodiesel without heat, who are you going to believe? Those who claim otherwise, or your own lying eyes?

Thanks Kevin,
You were right, I was following the Journey to Forever site instructions.
Well, what I'm trying to do, is to mix without heat but trying to apply the cavitation concept (homogeneous mixing).
I'm still having some problems with these experiments, because if I add those 5gr of NaOH, I do pass the methanol test but then in the "washt test" I get a thin white layer of soap (not a paper thin layer, as stated in the Journey Forever). I think this thin layer is soap, right? Is it because of the excess lye?

Also it is said that with cavitation one would not need to wash the biodiesel. How could this be possible?. It means that after letting the glycerin to settle, If I perform a "wasth test" I would get at the first time a crystal clear water phase?

UFO: Well, since these are new experiments for me, I'm not sure what to expect.
About The methanol test: "The test relies on the fact that biodiesel is quite soluble in methanol, while triglyceride has a very low solubility in methanol. The amount of remaining glycerides is a direct reflection the degree to which the oil was converted to biodiesel"

UFO, you probably know the test as the 3/27.. JTF calls in methanol test

quote:

As to your question, perhaps it's not possible to make biodiesel without heat, who are you going to believe? Those who claim otherwise, or your own lying eyes?

UFO, he accomplished producing biodiesel that passed the 3/27 test without adding heat. Heat is not necessary if you have time on your side. The first batch failed because he did not use enough caustic, 3.5g/l instead of 5g/l.
Jon

Heat may not be absolutely necessary but it sure does help. I try to do everything I can to push it along.