Anyone here brewing their own Biodiesel?

[guillaumeber]

Just wondering if anyone here on the forum is brewing their own fuel? I'd like to get in touch.

No biodiesel is available here in Quebec and I would like to experiment making my own! I've looked a lot about using WVO but bio seems like the way to go!

Let me know if there are any how-to's on this forum. I've found some googling but I usually trust a lot more the people on this forum than on ramdom websites found on google

Let me know!
G.b.

 

[erbilabuc]

there is only one way to make bio really so whatever you found online is most likely it. Hardest part is getting consistent source of oil. Here is pretty much all of the steps.

step 1:titrate
step 2:make methoxide
step 3:mix with oil at least 150 degrees F
step 4:agitate
step 5: settle
step 6: wash/rinse/settle
step 7our in tank

 

[leusgs]

I've been brewing since 2008. Start small and work your way up to building a 100 litre processor. Read read read there are lots of sites to learn from.

Also the explanation above is kind of useless cut and paste. There are several ways to make bio, but some common ways that will make sense for a small scale home setup. You can learn more with 5 mins on google. And 150F is too hot.

 

[guillaumeber]

Cool
I will be making a lot more reading on that!
Are you running B100 in your ALH?

thanks a lot!
g.b.

 

[DieselRacer]

I've been brewing since 2008. Start small and work your way up to building a 100 litre processor. Read read read there are lots of sites to learn from.

Also the explanation above is kind of useless cut and paste. There are several ways to make bio, but some common ways that will make sense for a small scale home setup. You can learn more with 5 mins on google. And 150F is too hot.

How much does it cost for you to make it per gallon compared to buying it retail...

 

[leusgs]

I run up to B100 in the summer in both the ALH, the BRM, and my Toyota truck. All run well on B100. I use waste Canola oil as the feedstock. The only difference vs. petroleum diesel is less smoke and a less offensive smelling exhaust. And Bio apparently has lubricity advantages for the Injection Pump. Bio is also a better solvent than petrol diesel so it will melt old buildup in the fuel tank which may result in plugged fuel filters until it's all cleaned up. You will want to change the filter more frequently for the first year or so. It may act as an injector cleaner too, who really knows.

In winter I run what temps will allow. If it's -30C, I run nothing. Around zero I may run 30-40%. Above 10C or so I run higher blends. I watch the forecast - if a cold snap is coming I top the tank off with normal diesel to reduce the blend %. And Vice versa if it's warming up. I also keep a jar of 50% blend (B50) outside to use as a gauge that helps me estimate what the fuel in the tank may look like. I've never had an issue with fuel gelling by keeping blends reasonable.

Cost per gallon - about $1.50 all-in.

 

[guillaumeber]

I've read some about it today!
Where do you find your Lye (KoH) ?
And also, do you have any cheap source for methanol? I can get some 8$/gallon here but what about bulk?

thanks a lot!
g.b.

 

[Tuco]

I run up to B100 in the summer in both the ALH, the BRM, and my Toyota truck. All run well on B100. I use waste Canola oil as the feedstock. The only difference vs. petroleum diesel is less smoke and a less offensive smelling exhaust. And Bio apparently has lubricity advantages for the Injection Pump. Bio is also a better solvent than petrol diesel so it will melt old buildup in the fuel tank which may result in plugged fuel filters until it's all cleaned up. You will want to change the filter more frequently for the first year or so. It may act as an injector cleaner too, who really knows.

In winter I run what temps will allow. If it's -30C, I run nothing. Around zero I may run 30-40%. Above 10C or so I run higher blends. I watch the forecast - if a cold snap is coming I top the tank off with normal diesel to reduce the blend %. And Vice versa if it's warming up. I also keep a jar of 50% blend (B50) outside to use as a gauge that helps me estimate what the fuel in the tank may look like. I've never had an issue with fuel gelling by keeping blends reasonable.

Cost per gallon - about $1.50 all-in.

Props!

I wish I could run B100 in my 2010. I could easily do it year-round thanks to the moderate climate in southern Nevada.

 

[JustinVT]

Where in Quebec are you located? I have been doing a lot of reading with the intent to have a setup in the near future.

 

[guillaumeber]

I'm in St-georges, Quebec, about 100km South of Quebec city!
I'm looking for a future setup too, something not too big... !
I'm reading on the topic a lot!
g.b.

 

[Lightflyer1]

Good reading here:

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/498605551

I had a small 5 gallon appleseed (hot water heater) setup in the past. Lots of good info at that web site.

 

[blazen71]

Check this out too! They have tons of videos on their website and youtube

http://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com/

 

[yatzee]

there is a place selling B100 in ottawa for 1.25$/l. I will be getting some of them in the coming weeks - I could probably pick some up for you also if you want

 

[guillaumeber]

Thanks a lot Yatzee! It's nice from you!
But I'm looking to make my own for my personal use and for fun too! I don't really have interest into buying it

Still! thanks again
g.b.

 

[leusgs]

I've read some about it today!
Where do you find your Lye (KoH) ?
And also, do you have any cheap source for methanol? I can get some 8$/gallon here but what about bulk?

thanks a lot!
g.b.

GB I buy my KOH and Methanol from a chemical supplier. Phone around and find one I'm sure there are a few in PQ. Word of warning - you may need to set up a numbered company as most suppliers won't sell to individuals. Methanol comes in ~200-litre drums. I paid around $350 last time. $8/gallon actually isn't too bad - but in drums it should be a little less - closer to $5-6/gallon.

 

[leusgs]

Check this out too! They have tons of videos on their website and youtube

http://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com/

They do a great job - I bought many of my parts from them as I built my processor

 

[leusgs]

Props!

I wish I could run B100 in my 2010. I could easily do it year-round thanks to the moderate climate in southern Nevada.

Time to buy at 2006 - the last real TDI. I don't have a good feeling about that 2.0. Go 1.9 Old School!

 

[guillaumeber]

Humm, this thing is a lot more expensive than I have have read... maybe that was an old website...... did you already check how much the home-made bio-d does cost you for each litre?

thanks a lot!
g.b.

 

[MidnightBlue]

There was a thread in this forum recently about Biodiesel Success!

 

[leusgs]

Each litre of B100 made costs me about 40 cents total. Methanol is the main expense. Methanol prices rise and fall like any other commodity. Current all-inclusive price is about 40 cents/L for me.

Current price at the pump here is 1.39. So I save 1.00 for each litre I make. My 100-litre batches thus return me $100 in savings, plus the environmental and lubricity benefits of course.

 

[Tuco]

What happens if you were to use too much lye (potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide) in biodiesel production? Same goes for the methanol. Is there a procedure for removing this stuff from the final product?

I would imagine any excess dissolved sodium or potassium ions in biodiesel would be extremely bad news if there was any water in the fuel tank.

 

[Lightflyer1]

IIRC excess soap is formed and/or gelled batch when too much sodium hydroxide is used. Excess methanol is not really a problem in the batch and is sometimes done on purpose to insure enough is there for a complete conversion. There are methods for removing both from the final product from washing and drying the fuel to using a vacuum setup and/or distiller setup to remove them. You should have little to none of these left in the final bio product.

Good reading here:

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/foru...rm/f/498605551


It is a pretty simple process but there is a lot to learn to do it correctly and more than can be posted here.

 

[TDIMeister]

Lye and methanol (methyl hydrate) are sold at Canadian Tire. Not as cheap as buying from a chemical supply store, but if it's your only convenient option...

 

[blazen71]

What happens if you were to use too much lye (potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide) in biodiesel production? Same goes for the methanol. Is there a procedure for removing this stuff from the final product?

I would imagine any excess dissolved sodium or potassium ions in biodiesel would be extremely bad news if there was any water in the fuel tank.

You can always fix a bad batch

 

[Lightflyer1]

You can try anyway! Sometimes it is difficult to do.

 

[guillaumeber]

What kind of lye you are getting at canadian tire?

 

[SBAtdijetta]

Good reading here:

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/498605551

I had a small 5 gallon appleseed (hot water heater) setup in the past. Lots of good info at that web site.

Hi Dave,

It has been a long time, so you may not remember me, but I drove up to RR when I first got my PD for some VCDS help. Anyway quick question for you if you don't mind me asking. Do you still have the Appleseed? If so are you not using it because you are too busy, or just don't want to do it, or because of the CR motor in your new Passat?

The reason I ask is twofold. One because I'm about to get a "new" to me CR, and two because I'm thinkning of starting down the Home Brew path and I'm either going to brew Beer, or BioDiesel.... lol

Any comments/help would be appreciated, thanks.
Steve

 

[guillaumeber]

Could you PM him for that? That's a little of thread polluting I guess?

 

[Lightflyer1]

Yes I will.