How to dispose of byproducts

[Dirt_Farmer]

Been reading through these post the last couple of days, I just wandered what everyone was doing with the byproducts that are filtered out, or alowed to settle with WVO and the soaps and stuff that settles out of Bio-D.

Sounds like they are pretty simple and safe to make, but I didn't see anything concerning the leftovers.

Thanks, Jeff

in edit Sorry I ment to post this in the Bio-diesel forrum, If a moderator could move it I would appreciate it. Sorry and Thanks, Jeff

[Wapitibill]

Some of the more enthuasistic biodiesel boosters suggest that the leftover glycerine can be sold or used for hand lotion, etc. That's a bit over the top if you ask me. The glycerine is sort of nasty. Especially if you used WVO for your biodiesel. Dirty, sticky and laced with leftover lye and methanol.

As for practical ways to get rid of it, what about flushing it down the toilet (as long you live in a city with sewer service.) Can't any worse than all the other things that get flushed. I've also heard of the byproducts used as a biodegradable weed killer. You could also burn the glycerine but you need a hot fire.

[Parrothead]

You can compost the glycerin. Mix it with some sawdust or wood chips to soak it up, keep it moist for a few months and you got garden or lawn compost.

OR- After soaking it up with sawdust, you can burn it in a wood stove.


..

[teester]

I think the easiest thing to do is make degreaser out of it. All you need to do is heat it a little to evaporate the methanol or let it set for a couple of weeks with the lid off and it will evaporate naturally. Then just add some water and you have a strong degreaser!

On making my first batch, we drained off the glycerin into a bucket. When I went to wash out the mixing container, a little glycerin remained on the bottom. I added a little water and gave it a good swirl to dissolve it and suds immediately developed. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Then I then poured it onto my hands, which had old sticky oil on them and it took it off quickly and completely! It was a little caustic I think as it got in a cut and burned a little but that can probably be remedied with a little vinegar or other acid.

Here is a link to a good Biodiesel site with info on all aspects of brewing! Infopop

[rockhead55]

Glycerin might be ok to burn but lye ooooweeee thats nasty. When I say might be ok I mean that under high temps and shortage of oxygen glycerin will apparently form acrolein which is apparently unpleasant at best.

If I get into the bioD production I will be looking to neutralize the lye and then see what utility is left in the glycerin. I suspect it might not be the super-degreaser without lye.

Glenn