I have been homebrewing for close to a year in a "fuelmiester" style processor. I was given an appleseed processor and just did my first batch in it. Apparently I filled the water heater to much (35 gallons + Methoxide) and did not get a good reaction. The wash process created ~3 gallons of emulsion. I added my glycerin back in and started mixing. The whole batch turned into emulsion. Then I kept adding glycerin from other batches. It took 30 gallons of glycerin to break the emulsion. Needless to say it failed the 3/27 test miserably. I then reprocessed the 25 gallons I could salvage(I had to remove some Bd from my 60 gallon cone tank to add the glycerin). It has been washed 5 times and and is now dry but cloudy. How do I know it's dry? I weighed a sample, heated it well above 220 F and weighed it again. Same weight and still cloudy. Does anybody have an idea what I should do next? I appreciate this forum and look forward to any and all answers.
Thanks, Dave

03 TDI wagon
01 F350 powerstroke
94 F250 Powerstroke

We need all the details, from the beginning.

What kind of oil?
What did it titrate at?
How much and what kind of reactants added?
What temperature was the reaction?
How long did it run?
Did you test the original oil for water and how?
What were the water results?
How did you wash?

etc, etc, etc.

Thanks,

troy

What kind of oil? It was Canola oil from one source not mixed like most of my batches.

What did it titrate at? 1.25 I Titrate 4 ml oil 4 drops phenol red and 40 ml isopropyl Alch. Then divide by 4. This method leaves room for small mistakes.

How much and what kind of reactants added? I use KOH (93%) base of 8+ 1.25 per liter and 22% Methanol.

What temperature was the reaction? I have two temp gauges one on bottom one on top. They were both different Bottom read 138 top read 120 at start and 130 at end. The top gauge is a probe taped to the outside of the metal elbow, The bottom gauge is inserted inside pipe.

How long did it run? I let it run for 3.5 hours because I was delayed getting back. I figured that as long as it was at least 2 hours, more wont hurt. As soon as I got back I attempted a 5% prewash but I got less than a gallon in before it started to overflow from the top. I stopped the pump immediately. Let it settle for 2 hours or so. I don't like the wash tank that came with the appleseed so I transferred by (clean) bucket to my cone bottom tank in the "Fuelmeister" style set up.

Did you test the original oil for water and how? I did not test the oil for water because this source has always (since the beginning, about 10 months ago) been dry.

How did you wash? I have a 1/4 gallon pm mister head attached to the top of the cone bottom tank. A timer is attached to the hose and I set it for 60 minutes to allow for 15 gallons. After the emulsion reared its ugly head I added the glycerin from that batch back in and stirred for about ten minutes. Nothing happened so I started to pump mix. That's when the entire batch turned to emulsion. I kept adding glycerin stirring and waiting. Eventually I had ~30 gallons of glycerin added before the emulsion broke. I had to keep draining emulsion to make room for more glycerin. After failing the 27/3 test I reprocessed using KOH (base of 8 only) plus 5 gallons Methanol. I had 25 gallons of BD left after draining emulsion and glycerin.

etc, etc, etc. The glycerin is drained into the used cubies the oil comes in. I don't clean the cubies because I never thought I would have so much emulsion. So when I added more and more glycerin I was also adding small amounts of unprocessed WVO. Just the stuff stuck to the sides and bottom. No puddles or anything. The other thing I did different was to leave a gallon or so of processed biodiesel in my heater tank from the failed batch. Normally I clean out the "dregs" but there was very little in the tank. I had already wasted 10 gallons and wanted to save the gallon in the heater tank. I figured the 25 gallons were so clean that a gallon of failed would not hurt.

Thank you for your help. Has this happened to anyone else? Dave

BTW It does pass the 27/3 test but since its cloudy I am hesitant to put it in any of my vehicles. What do you think I should do?
Thanks, Dave

I think you are dealing with soaps. Try the following: leave a sample of your dry cloudy B100 sitting on a similar quantity of fresh water for a couple of days in the sun. If it clears out while sitting on water, you got soaps in your B100 to deal with...

I will try it, Thanks. Just out of curiosity... I understand poorly processed biodiesel will clog injectors. That is the oil that drops out during the 27/3 test. If it passes the 27/3 test and has soap in it, will it damage my engine? I run 3 work trucks washing windows and having any truck down costs a lot more than just the repairs. I would hate to have a third of my work force, sales and vehicles out trying to save $125 on a tank of fuel. On the other hand I hate giving $125 to big oil, polluting the environment/people and adding to the "coffers" of the terrorists.
Dave

Hello Dave

quote:

Originally posted by VindoViper:
Just out of curiosity... I understand poorly processed biodiesel will clog injectors.

You will hear a lot of things that may or may not be accurate.

quote:

If it passes the 27/3 test and has soap in it, will it damage my engine?

I can not recall anyone ever demonstrating that it happens.

quote:

..and adding to the "coffers" of the terrorists.

Do you mean "Big Oil"

Saint Tilly,
First I want to express my gratitude to you, "Mr. Diesel" Rudolph, and Troy for showing interest in my post. I have also emailed Graham and asked that he look at it because I see Saint Tilly and Graham all over these message boards. I have learned so much thanks to all of you and Info.pop. Thank you
When I say adding to the coffers of the terrorists.. I mean to say that Saudi Arabia has been reported to finance the September 11th attack and also the insurgents in Iraq. The media paints a picture of "frenemys with OPEC. They want our money and we need their oil. I hate the idea that oil money is buying weapons that kill soldiers trying to free people from tyranny. But I digress.
I just put about 10 gallons in the '94 F250 and crossing my fingers that a few gallons will not harm my engine. I also set out the sample sitting on water for the sun to do it's thing. I figure it cant do any harm. I did wash until the wash water was slightly hazy. Normally I would have given it one more wash just to be sure. The water has never been crystal clear and I figured I was wasting the last wash so I skipped it this time. I wont skip it on the next batch.
I cant thank all of you enough for your help and guidance. Without you guys my shop would not be so full of containers of oils and glycerin. My floor would not have a traffic pattern of grease and my clothes would smell nice and clean I would also feel terrible knowing that I can be part of the solution instead of the problem. Thanks for helping me sleep at night, Dave