titrating? - Diesel Forum

bullridin_fool · 03-24-2005, 11:18 PM

i've read alot on here and haven't been able to find out what titrating is. all i have found is that it should be done so i know how much lye to add to the bd. anybody wanna let me in on the secret.

ToddT · 03-25-2005, 09:04 AM

Making biodiesel is all about a reaction. We have to know exactly how much of one thing is in the waste veggie in order to add the right amount of another thing so it will balance out. In this case, its figuring out how much free fatty acids are in the veggie. We balance this with caustic (lye). Titration is a neat sounding lab word and can sound intimidating. But, as one online article stated, it will take you longer to read the article than to actually do the titration.

Todd T

wodnek · 03-25-2005, 02:32 PM

Here are three awesome sites for good info.
http://forums.biodieselnow.com/
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x
http://www.veggieavenger.com/avengerboard/

Look for posts by Girl Mark, She provides excellent info.

biobenz · 03-25-2005, 09:14 PM

Titration is the chemical determination of the volume of free fatty acids in an oil source.
The process is simple yet requires that all components be present for it to work.
First one takes 4ml of the oil to be tested (waste vegie oil mostly) and 40ml Isopropyl alcohol sitting in a jar which is sitting in a warm water bath. Mix the iso and oil together until disolved.
Then either using an electronic PH meter (what I use) or phenolphthaline solution in the mix slowly add some 1% lye/distilled water solution until you hit 8.5 PH on the meter or until the phenolph turns a redish purple for 10 seconds. The number of drops of 1% lye solution divided by 4 (because you made a 4 fold testing solution) is then added to the stock amount of 3.5gr/liter oil to get the amount of catalyst required to complete the reaction.
If you used 4 drops, you divide by 4 = 1. add 1 to 3,5 and you get 4.5gr lye (sodium hydroxide)/liter of wate oil you want to convert to biodiesel. this amount myust be disolved in a 20-25% volume of methanol(Methyl Hydrate/wood alcohol...).
An 80 liter batch at 4.5gr = 360gr lye in 16 liters methanol competely disolved and then added slowly to oil that has been heated to 55C (130F) and processed for a couple hours, either by a stirring mechanism or circulating pump.
The end result must then be allowed to settle (8hours or more)so that the glycol can drop to the bottom and the biodiesel can stay on top. Decant the biodiesel and wash it with warm water at least three times or until the water coming out is as clear as when it went in. Drain the water out, and set aside to allow any residual water to further settle (a few days to a week is plenty) Siphon off the fuel and run it through a diesle fuel filter. Mine in it's upgrade form will go through a 10 micron water seperating filter and then through a 3 micron hydrolic oil filter for polishing before use.
The end user (you)cost minus any time and labour and depending on the cost of the methanol (the most expensive ingredient) is about .43/liter before methanol recovery which can yet further decrease the cost factor.
And that is it, in a nutsheel. You can get more complete instructrions at the sites mentioned above and also at :
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html where I learned how to. For an idea of how to build a reactor/wash tank combo my unit is also on the processor page:
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor12.html This is the unit prior to the upgrade.
Have a nice day.

girlmark · 03-26-2005, 03:54 PM

Luc,
what are you doing on the Ford diesel forum when you drive something different? Most people on this forum (or other forums) dont' recommend journeytoforever for anything.

mark

T_Bone · 03-27-2005, 12:35 AM

I would recomend Journeytoforever website as it contains alot of good info not found on any other website.

I don't fully agree with everything that website has to offer but it still contains alot of valid info. I don't agree with alot info posted on this website, but there's not another website like it that has alot of good info like thedieselstop has.

There's good and bad in any website but since I don't own or maintain the website, I surley don't have room to complain about it as I do have a off button if I don't like what I read.

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

biobenz · 03-27-2005, 02:16 PM

well, excuuuuusssseeeee me. I had no idea it was proprietary. Once again looking for a fight eh? Haven't we been down this road once already ?
And just because "no one" recommends something other than me, whom you seem to have a problem with, does not in and of itself make the information invalid.
And FYI I do not participate in the JtF forum list any longer, reasons for which are really none of your business, but if you continue to dog me from forum to forum trying to discredit every and anything I have to say that would be tantamount to censureship and I am certain that others here and elsewhere have not anointed you the Queen Censor of anything, so if you don't mind taking another tone and being civil then we shall get along just fine and learn from one another as it is supposed to be.
I am offering ideas, alternatives to the norm and no one is so mentaly incompetent to not be abel to decide for themselves what they will or will not aceept and follow. Kindergarden was over a long time ago.Grow up.

bullridin_fool · 03-27-2005, 03:55 PM

B100 i appreciate the right up. this is exactly what i was looking for and have not been able to find. thanks

biobenz · 03-28-2005, 07:54 AM

[ QUOTE ]
B100 i appreciate the right up. this is exactly what i was looking for and have not been able to find. thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

You are quite welcomed. The way I figure it that is what it is all about, information sharing, kinda what the net was created for eh? All the thought police and speech censors are having a really hard time with all this open dialogue as are those with "star quality" in their minds who seem to think that they are the only ones with anything valid to offer, but that pettiness will just have to wait until the claws of Big brother get firmly sunk into net traffic as well to be happy. Until then I shall continue to apply my right to freedom of speech as well as my freedom of assembly.
Have a nice day. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

biobenz · 04-03-2005, 08:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Luc,
what are you doing on the Ford diesel forum when you drive something different? Most people on this forum (or other forums) dont' recommend journeytoforever for anything.

mark

[/ QUOTE ]

Please see Girl Mark's referencing Journey to Forever at Info Pop. Oops... People who live in glass houses...
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/ubb....51/m/990600361
Down near the bottom. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]