Hello Everyone –

I've been making biodiesel for about two years. I stared with Maria Mark Alovert's homebrew manual, and have also been guided by many of the excellent posts to this usergroup. Given the steep rise in diesel prices, I'm guessing there are many individuals out there who are considering this alternative. Along those lines, I've prepared a reference that includes everything I've learned over the past two years. The document has taken me over a year to compile, and I'm offering all 250+ pages to anyone who wants it for free via this website:

http://www.biod101.com

The document is chock-full of pictures related to my own operation here in Tucson, Arizona. I'm hoping this will encourage responsible homebrewing while demonstrating that there's more to it than simply buying a kit. I certainly don't want to discourage homebrewing, but I do want individuals understand what they're getting themselves into before proceeding. At a minimum, this should help prevent inappropriate disposal of waste materials, unused oil, and potential accidents thus ensuring a sustainable future for this activity.

I’d like to acknowledge Ms. Maria Mark Alovert and Graydon Blair whose Homebrew manual and blog postings got me started, and keep me going in this very rewarding activity. Please consider what I’ve developed a supplement and not a replacement to the great work they are doing. I’m sure what I’ve produced is not perfect, and will benefit from improvement in future revisions which are coming. I know my own operation and methods will improve as time permits.

Although the document is being offered for free, donations are accepted using Paypal. All donations will keep future revisions in the works.

Thank to all of you for maintaining the global-warming energy-independence fight!

Hans Huth

Downloading now

Just read a few of the pages.

Looks good nice work!

Downloaded and read the first 90 pages so far. Looks very well done, very professional, and has already added several things to my knowledge base.

Second to the information, I (personally) really appreciate the effort you made to acknowledge those sources who helped you gain your knowledge.

I really appreciate the time and effort you put into it, and have already directed a couple other people who are interested in BioDiesel to your site.

Thanks,
-Scott

After a very quick perusal, it looks to be a very comprehensive peice of work - very nice.

Nick

WOW! I was going to print it, so I had something to read in my truck while waiting for my wife to get to work everyday and exchange the kids with me...but 268 pages! I think somebody around work here would have issue with me burning up that much of the color printer's supplies...even in booklet form its still 67 pages!

Amazing work, lots to read. Thanks!!!

Just scanned through very briefly. Nice work. Will be making a first test batch using WVO soon. Thanks.

Thanks everyone for your comments and kind words. I hope it's useful to you, and I'll make sure that revisions are noted in this discussion forum.

If any of you are looking for presentations or posters related to biodiesel, or additional background information, feel free to visit my other website: http://www.thegreenbeat.com .

Near the base of that page, there's a "resources" link that will take you to a page that contains links for Power Point presentations and other materials I've developed in support of projects I'm involved with related to biodiesel.

Feel free to download and use these materials for you own purposes, perhaps to share with others in your community. The page is a little dated given that I've been focusing on the manual, but I hope to have fresh links to new presentations and Earth Day posters up soon.

Anything I develop is free for the taking as long as you don't use it for personal profit. Please don't redistribute anything I post unless it has my name on it.

Regards -

Hans Huth

Hello Hans

I had a quick look at a page or two of it and on page 39 it says:
"Stoichiometrically, the reaction requires 5 grams of NaOH and 150 ml of methanol per liter of waste oil (triglyceride) used."
This is inaccurate.

In the Reaction that makes biodiesel the NaOH is a catalyst, not a reactant. As the NaOH is not a reactant, Stoicheometrically is not the appropriate word to use.
And because it is talking about WVO, more than 5g NaOH would be used to catalyze the reaction if you wanted to Make ASTM conversion biodiesel.

Also, The stoichiometric quantity of methanol is usually said to be 12.5% by volume, that is, 125 millilitres of methanol per litre of oil reacted, not 150ml.
However, this will vary slightly depending on the oil used.
Rape/canola oil is 11.3% (113ml),
Mustard oil is 11.8% (118m),
Cod liver oil is 12.1% (121ml),
Peanut oil is 12.3% (123ml),
tallow is 12.4% (124ml),
soy oil is 12.5% (125ml),
Cottonseed and corn oil is 12.6% (126ml), and
palm oil is 13% (130ml).
The only oils I can find that are above 13% (130ml methanol) are Palm Kernel at 15.4% (154ml)and Coconut oil at 16% (160ml)

Thanks Tilly -

I appreciate your input. This is a first attempt at documenting things as I understand them, and I will certainly reflect yours and other's corrections as they come in via future revisions. Comment noted and I'll acknowledge accordingly.

Take care -

HH

Tilly -

Just to follow up on your comment, on page 40, I do address the need for additional catalyst resulting from the use of WVO; here are the quotes:

"Realistically, the reaction is more complicated.... used and/or degraded oils will often contain high levels of free
fatty acids (FFA). If acidic oils are used for the production of biodiesel, FFAs in the oil
will consume catalyst and prompt the formation of soaps. If the base catalyst is
consumed in making soap, additional catalyst must be introduced to ensure it is available
for the transesterification of triglycerides to biodiesel. As such, the acidity of the oil used
as a feedstock will have a direct impact on the amount of catalyst needed, and will also
contribute to unwanted soap formation."

Also, I suggest 15% methanol since I never know what kind of oil I'm getting from restaurants; palm and coconut are certainly possible.

I think if you read the full section, you'll see the topic is covered in detail. Regardless, I appreciate your observations and those any others who have constructive critiques.

HH

Hello HH

The part I Quoted from page 39 is still inaccurate.

Stoicheometrically is not the correct word to use to describe the amount of NaOH used because the NaOH is a catalyst, not a reactant.
The Stoichiometric amount of methanol for the reaction is not 150ml per litre of WVO.

The figure of the reaction on page 39 identifies NaOH as a catalyst, but I take your point; it could be better worded.

HH

Hello HH

Yes, it identifies the NaOH as a catalyst and then incorrectly talks about the Stoicheometric ratio.

A more accurate statement would be something along the lines that the NaOH is a catalyst in the main reaction that makes biodiesel but is also consumed in a side reaction making soap. Testing has shown that to make ASTM conversion biodiesel from new oil requires at least 5g NaOH per litre of oil reacted when using the production formula's normally used by backyard biodieselers.

I am sure that if you think about it a bit you will come up with something better.

Tilly -

Thanks again. As stated in my prior post, the sentence you are referring to could be worded better. The point has been conceded and I appreciate your input. I will address it in the next revision.

Take care -

HH

Nicely done!

-Graydon

Hello HH

quote:

Originally posted by greenbeat:
Tilly -
Thanks again. As stated in my prior post, the sentence you are referring to could be worded better.

For starters It could be worded so that it contained the correct information. As it stands the information is incorrect.

quote:

I will address it in the next revision.

I hope that is sooner rather than later. There is already too much inaccurate information about biodiesel production floating around the internet.

Hello HH

I have started reading again at page 39 and I see another major inaccuracy in the last sentence that says:

"The volume of biodiesel produced will equal the volume of triglycerides reacted, and the volume
of glycerin byproduct will equal the volume of methanol reacted."

This is not correct.

also, again on page 41 you say:
"Stoichiometrically, 1 liter of waste vegetable oil (triglycerides) requires 150 ml of methanol."
This is just incorrect!

As I state in my disclaimer, I am not an expert. Instead, I've attempted to share what I've personally learned over the last two years. The document itself is an outgrowth of that experience, and it's something I wish I would have had available to me when I initially started home brewing. I fully agree with Tilly/Graydon that information distributed over the internet should be accurate, and your observation regarding use of the word "stoichiometrically" is valid. However, please note that the concern raised has been over one sentence in a document that spans 180 pages of research and experience. For those of you with experience or knowledge, please consider reviewing and commenting on the remaining 179 pages. I believe your input on the other facets of this document will help us all meet what I believe are our common goals. Please note that making money out of this activity is not one of mine.

I have no ego about this; I'll return to this thread in two weeks and will look forward to incorporating your comments and/or corrections as deemed appropriate in a soon to follow revision. Where corrections are made, I promise to acknowledge those who contributed as has already been done in the document itself; perhaps through an "amendments tracking" page.

Thanks again to all who have contributed to this blog over the years. If it weren't for your group, I would have never made it this far

I look forward to your input; I'll come back in two weeks.

HH

Thanks Tilly for the latest-

I've returned just to acknowledge your comments via the following note on the index page of http://www.biod101.com/ :

"Note: 4/20/2008: Thanks to those of you on the biodiesel.infopop.cc blog who are currently reviewing v 1.01 and noting corrections where needed. A revision (v 1.02) will be released in two weeks (5/5/2008) to reflect your observations where appropriate."

Take care -

HH