Need personal stories of producting Biodiesel for an Oral Report

[02Powerstroke]

Hey, Im kind of new to the forum, which I guess is irrelevant right now. I am doing an oral report for my engineering tech communication class, and I chose doing biodiesel, and I was wondering if anyone had pictures and or stories that I could use in my report. I have to give a speech for 10min and would like some interesting stories about how its done, accidents, basically anything to make up the 10 min. All help is appreciated

THanks again
Scott

[Ford_Forgotton]

I'd suggest reading all these forums and just learn the differences between Waste Veggie Oil and Bio_diesel and talk about whats need to do both. I can talk for HOURS about the differences.

Or better yet!

Produce your own bio-d (ala the dr pepper bottle method). You could do a demo IN CLASS and take up MORE than 10 mins [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[02Powerstroke]

well, its a process report... its supposed to stay away from "how to" and things like that, which is why I was going to try to just explain what Biodiesel is, and how some people have been producing it. Just a general overlook of the whole process of making biodiesel... my professor said that adding stories about others will make it more interesting and manageable

[Spencnaz]

Check out the biodiesel page on wikipedia, it's pretty concise.

As for personal stories, I've been running biodiesel as often as I can make it, permitting my schedule.

There have been spills and the cleanup, and the botched experiements. Plus the one time I had to drill a hole in my rear fuel tank because of all the water that was in my biodiesel from a screwed up process and my fumbled wash attempt.

That was 20 gallons of goo. It surprises me still that I would put that in my truck, but hey, when you get impatient, bad things happen.

I had been tinkering with biodiesel off and on for about 2 years until I got serious, bought a diesel and then found out about making biodiesel in a waterheater. Besides the environmental benefits, I get a charge out of peoples' reaction to the smell of fried food coming out of my truck. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[dssamp]

check out the last couple of stories in "how to clean up spilled oil".

[dssamp]

link to some funny/serious problems with biod
mishaps with biod

[Spencnaz]

I read one post where a person's two dogs go ape over spilled oil but spew chunks outside.

The dogs do a really good job of getting the oil of the carpet, said 'they'll lick a hole in the carpet'.

[02Powerstroke]

I have a general question about the process. Let me see if I understand this correctly...

Step 1: Get the used oil
Step 2: Run it through a filter to get the chunks of crap out
Step 3: Boil the grease to get the water out
Step 4: Add Lye and ethanol?
Step 5: stir for a few hours
Step 6: let sit over night of for a while
Step 7: Drain top layer off (biodiesel), glycerine on bottem
Step 8: Wash it... does this mean to mix it w\ water and filter, then let it sit so the water evaporates?

then use it


is this correct?

[dssamp]

Collaborative Biodiesel Link

This link will tell you everything you need to know Suggest you read a little bit if you need to make a report on this effort....

[02Powerstroke]

yeah so all those links are broken.. was I correct up top w\ my statement?

[Ctek]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a general question about the process. Let me see if I understand this correctly...

Step 1: Get the used oil
Step 2: Run it through a filter to get the chunks of crap out
Step 3: Boil the grease to get the water out
Step 4: Add Lye and ethanol?
Step 5: stir for a few hours
Step 6: let sit over night of for a while
Step 7: Drain top layer off (biodiesel), glycerine on bottem
Step 8: Wash it... does this mean to mix it w\ water and filter, then let it sit so the water evaporates?



[/ QUOTE ]

Almost, not quite.

My process, in easy terms:

Step 1: Get the used oil
Step 2: Run it through a filter to get the chunks of crap out (Strained, not filtered)
Step 3: Boil the grease to get the water out - (Unnecessary, usually)
Step 4: Add Lye and ethanol? Lye and Methanol
Step 5: stir for a few hours - only about 20 minutes
Step 6: let sit over night of for a while - 2 or 3 hours
Step 7: Drain top layer off (biodiesel), glycerine on bottom
Step 8: Wash it... flow water through fine mist of water settles to the bottom, drain water, do it again 5 or 6 times 10 gallons or so each time.
Step 9: Dry - heat bio and send bubbles of air through to evaporate water.

[02Powerstroke]

when you wash it... you say use fine mist... do you mean just spray the biodiesel, or to actually pump it in.. or what?

[Maroon Harpoon]

Go here and read awhile...all the answers to your questions are there. While this site is a great resource, it isn't the best for research at the depth you need.

And the answer to your latest is...spray the water onto the biodiesel, in a mist.

MH
Tim

[02Powerstroke]

thanks everyone for the help!