after processing and settling, the top layer of BD was transparent

I washed three times and took a sample of the BD and let set for 3 days and it remains cloudy. I've ran three tests on the washed sample to see how I could clear it up but have gotten no where is seems

Test 1: Shake Up. I added warm salty water (thinkig the BD was emulsified) and shook it up. The water dropped out with 2-3 minutes. Let sit overnight and it remains cloudy. Wash water is pretty clean and clear. (milky tint)

Test 2: Check for water. I brought the temp of the sample to 220 degees F and let simmer for 10 minutes. The oil bubbled and foamed but didn't snap-crackle-pop. Question: what is the foamy stuff? Also, while cleaning the pan I noticed a black residue at the bottom of the pan. What is that?

Test 3: Checked pH. the reading was around 9. Is this to high?


I could post some pictures but I can't seem to find anyone who will explain to me or show me where to look on how to do post them. I've tryed several times and keep getting errors.

Where are you at? If the humidity is as high as here, it will not want to dry. Take that sample in the house in a mason jar and leave the lid off and stirr it up a few times a day, it will probably clear up. I have been running a dehumidifier in the shop and it works good while circulating the bio warmed to 110 d f. However it makes the shop crazy hot, about 10 degrees warmer then outdoors.
I think you just have moisture suspended in the bio and when the humidity goes down the bio will dry.
I would not put it in a vehicle untill it is clear when it is cooled off.
Jammer

Jammer,

I live in Tulsa OK. and it's been about 30%RH last couple of days.

If you've got a de-humidifier in the shop. The room should seem cooler then outside. Temperature being the same of course.

Now I've been thinking about the whole drying thing. Let see if my logic is correct.

We wash b/c water grabbs stuff out of the BD and carries it away. Now we have water suspended in the BD, possibly with stuff attached to it, that we want to evaporate. Wouldn't this put the stuff back into the BD?

I think my flaw is that hopefully most of the stuff was drained away with the wash water and it's just water suspended.

Another question: If I add water to the BD and stir or shake it up really good and the water seperates out of the BD then why is there water in the BD? inquiring minds want to know.

The solubility of water in biodiesel is about 1500 ppm. The solubility of water in petroleum diesel is about 50 ppm. The ASTM standard for water in either petroleum biodiesel or B100 biodiesel is 500 ppm.

Undried biodiesel contains too much moisture to meet the ASTM spec's. Excess moisture has a negative effect on fuel storage and causes other problems with the fuel.

I bubble air through my bio overnight and it clears right up.

Might try that.

TW,

yeah I guess I'll try that. I've just been hesitant to do that after what I've read about with the Iodine number and polymerization on the journytoforever web sit.

Also, I took a sample and heated it up to 220F. shouldn't that evaporate any left over water?

Bubbling it overnight works well for me too, I can get it almost dry so after less than 1 hr of spraying it drys clear.

TW, Greaseburger;

Any experience using an air compressor? I rigged up a nozzle and valve to connect the compressor to the bottom of the tank and bubbled it up from the bottom for 9 hrs. I could see the steam coming of the top of the tank. Good so far.

Problem: I took a sample from the top and it was VERY clear. Awesome. I drained a sample from the bottom and I can see water dropletes suspended in the BD. And they don't fall out.

Theory: I think the compressed air, air is intoduction moisture into the BD. Any thoughts on how to fix this? Do you think an air dryer will work? or should I look for a small pond airiator. something that doesn't compresss the air to 100 psi?

Hi, Im new to biodiesel and have just filtered my first batch of oil to try. How do you bubble air through it or what do you use ?? regards simon

Randyk300 That is probably your biggest problem, confusion from reading anything from JTF. They are a bunch of QUACKS.
When you are done washing let the bd set for a day and the freewater will drop out and can be drained.
Then using your standpipe (that you just cleared) pump the bd to the dry tank. Heat to 110 d f and circulate it around for an hour or 2. Pull the bd off the bottom drain and spray it into the top of the barrel,with a fan blowing x the top and it will dry. Let it cool off to outside temp and filter, I filter my cool bd for about 2 hours through a 10 micron and a 2 micron filter setup, and straight into the tank.
The air compressor will work but you need a moisture filter on the air and the bd still needs to be warm to get the suspended water to evaporate.
Jammer

ye ye i agree put a water or water trap on the compressor that will take all moisture out of the air .. and then also possibly pump through an inline 3 or 4 kw geyser heater and into the tank and circulate that will dry it in no time . check its clear and all good that should work fine !!

Cool. I'm sure the compressor was introduction moisture into the BD. Eventhough it was able to remove alot of the suspended moisture from the washing. The moisture from the compressor was easy enough to remove. I just pumped the bottom drain back to the top through a 5 micron filter, which needed to be done anyway, for about 1-1/2 hrs. CLEARED RIGHT UP.

QUESTION: If I've removed all the visable signs of suspended water in the BD is it necessary to "dry" it with heat?