Biodiesel Production Demonstration - Part 3 of 3

[vmelkon]

Can the NaOH be recycled? because it doesn't participate in the chemical reaction.

[Aquapepino]

@vmelkon no, the NaOH or KOH used can not be recovered because it DOES participate in the reaction: the methanol (metOH) reacts with the OH to form methoxide (metO): metOH + NaOH -› metONa + H2O.

[vmelkon]

@Aquapepino but then the CH3ONa reacts with the oil to make biodiesel. The CH3 (or CH3O) part connects to alkyl part making the diesel and the Na+ must be going back into solution. I think you get back your NaOH. Also, I think if you have methanol + NaOH, it is probably in equilibrium with CH3ONa and H2O.

[Aquapepino]

@vmelkon You are right, I did not complete the reaction with oil. I looked into the processes and well, anything is possible, the real matter is costs. at the end you need to wash the boidiesel with water to remove methanol, catalyst an glycerol, in this step you will be diluting the catalyst an the alcohol. the diluted catalyst and methanol will require destilation to be recovered. So, it is possible but expensive. the question is what is more convenient or cost effective.

[JaiacosM]

is there a way to know, if the biodiesel is ready to be pumped into the gas tank of my truck? perhaps biodiesel must have a specific gravity or density?

[saeidmomtahan]

Instructional videos are inherently more complicated than they have to be. Simply because the guy has to explain each step carefully. Once you have done this a few times, i'm sure you could do all the steps in a few minutes and without much thought.

Thanks for the poster.

I'd be good if you indicated where one can get the big conical plastic tanks.

[Basstasticification]

ok you are rly bad at titration but good video.

[seanbusuttil]

Hi can you explain please again how to calculate titration?

You got a small beaker of 10ml of isopropyl alcohol. Then extracted 1ml of used oil and added it to the 10 ml of isopropyl alcohol. Then added 4 drops of PH indicator (can you give me the brand please because I couldn't understand) to beaker. Then slowly added titration.

OK till here I understood the procedure but then in the spreadsheet how did u arrive to this 'Enter the value you determined by titration'

thank you

[dbrandinni]

Wow, that's not as easy to do as he advertised in the beginning. I agree with the rod52882, not everyone is a chemist but everyone burns fuel. That's too hard for someone with no chemical background.. If it was a choice at the pump, and all you had to do is pump it into your car, then everyone would do it.

[pangavamanos]

Wow what a great job you have done here. Do you have any ROI data on the reactor assuming free oil from restaurants and current $3.50 a gal diesel?

Thanks again,

Windthot

[BLK281302]

Where do you get the lye from? And how much does it normally cost.

[rod52882]

you guys are awesome

[mathewharris123]

where do u buy all of your tanks and pumps?? Also would it be possible to make a detailed video of how to set up a system like yours? That im sure would help a lot of people.

[spanky8477]

The techniques this guy uses in the video are very rough and inaccurate and makes even me, a novice lab student cringe at his methods. His titrations are all wrong and the way he just purs stuff creating spillages and inaccuracies is pretty bad. Even if it doesn't make too much difference to how the fuel runs in an engine he should still really touch up on his lab skills

[rod52882]

@spanky8477 we are not all chemists but we all burn fuel, respect due to the maker of this video for caring

[Sadetree]

Wow! I think ill stick to just filtering it. And skip the monotony and price of chemicals.

I cant even tell the difference between used Oil or diesel. And my car runs great.

[taiyeantang]

Interesting video, what do you do with the unused oil? Can this be recycled?