First I would like to say that there seems to be quite a smart bunch of folks here! I have been lurking around for the last year or so and I have finally made something that looks like Biodiesel!!WOO HOO!
I have been trying to wash my 80L batch but I haven't had much luck...I haven't been able to pass the "shake-em-up" test. I've heated to 80, misted softly & aggressively, bubbled and run through oh I've lost count maybe 5-6 loads of wash water at about 10-12 gal each. What else can I do to pass this last test(my water is still cloudy after settling all night long)

Please help its getting cold in Maine and I plan to heat with my "squeezins" this winter!
-John

John
-my water is NEVER crystal clear after the wash cycle. take a sample, do a shake test and let sit, the biodiesel should clear up in a matter of hrs/days depending on the temperature of the mix. another check that I do is to take a sample of biodiesel only, 1/2 fill a small container and shake the crap out of it and observe the foam that is produced. well wash biodiesel will only produce a very small amount of foam that diapears within a minute or two. The other alterative is to do a soap test, I don't do that one so I can't offer any advice there. Tom

ill have to look it up, but i believe you can test your water for a baseline ph or softness or something of that nature, then test your wash water to see the difference, see whats its pulling out of the bio. that may help. iirc the electronic test device is about $30 US. ill see if i can find it.

r-n
-you set the ph meter on 7 (or any number will work)on water prior to washing then check the drain water and when the ph is the same, no more soap! Tom