WARNING!!! Making biodiesel involves using dangerous chemicals, creating toxic fumes, and lots of heat. That said, please excercise safety and caution when attempting to make Biodiesel.
*** The Utah Biodiesel Cooperative will not be held liable for any injury, property damage, or other problems resulting from the use of this page. It is for informational purposes only. ***
Basic Production Concept
Biodiesel Production Details
Written & put together by Graydon Blair of Utah Biodiesel Supply
This method will make approximately 35 to 45 gallons of biodiesel, depending on the quality of the oil used.
|1- Pouring Oil Into The Processor |
|2- Heating the oil prepares it for the reaction |
A candy or meat thermometer works just fine
Don't use an open flame to heat the processor, fumes from the Methoxide used later may ignite--not pretty!
|3- Titration is the process used to see how much Lye to add to processor |
Items Needed: Distilled Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lye (NaOH), Graduated Eye-Dropper, Ph Meter, 2 Small Dishes, 1 Liter container
- Dissolve 50 mL of Lye into 500 mL of Distilled Water in the 1 Liter container
- You won't use all of this solution for one batch, it's just convenient to have this much on hand
- When you run out, just make some more
- Place 5 mL of Lye/Water Solution into Dish 1
- Place 45 mL of Distilled Water into Dish 1
- Place 40 mL of Isopropyl Alcohol into Dish 2
- Place a 4 mL sample of the heated Used Vegitable Oil into Dish 2
- Mix the contents together, keeping the mixture warm, until the oil is dissolved thoroughly
- Keeping the mixture warm and mixing will help to keeping the oil from separating
- Check the Ph of Dish 2 using the Ph Meter
- Drop 1 mL of solution from Dish 1 into Dish 2
- Measure and record the Ph Level of Dish 2
- Repeat until the Ph level jumps up 2-3 levels
- You're looking for a Ph above 8.5
- As you add drops, the Ph will increase slowly (like from 7 to 7.5)
- At one point you'll notice a larger jump (like from 7.5 to 9 or 10)
- When it jumps 2-3 Ph levels, it means the oil has been neutralized
L = ((D / 4) + 3.5) * O
D = Number of 1 mL drops placed in Dish 2 during titration
O = Milli-liters of oil to be reacted L = Number of grams of Lye needed for reaction to occur
-Record L for use in next step
|4- The Lye/Methonol Mixture - "Methoxide" |
WARNING: THIS STEP WILL CREATE TOXIC FUMES, PLEASE TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, DO NOT BREATH THE FUMES, WEAR GLOVES, AND BE CAREFUL
Items Needed: Methanol, Lye, and (2) 5 Gallon buckets with lids
- Clean both buckets out
- Drill 1/4" hole in the center of each lid
- Pour 15 Liters (4 Gallons) of Methonol into each bucket
- Lightly place the lids on each bucket
- Take care not to breath the fumes, they're poisonous
- Locate the L value from the Titration Step
- Divide L by 2 to make GL
- GL = Grams of Lye to use in each bucket
- Measure out two sets of GL grams of Lye
- Set aside for use when mixing with the Methanol
- Remove the lid of the first bucket - Using a mixing stick, begin to stir the Methonol in the 1st bucket
- While the Methanol is still spinning, add the premeasured Lye to the 1st bucket
- Continue stirring the mixture for about 1 minute
- Place the lid on loosely and allow to stand for a few minutes
- Remove the lid and begin stirring again
- Mix until the Lye is dissolved, approximately 10 minutes
- Repeat the same process with the second bucket
- Take care not to breath the fumes, they're still poisonous
|5- Pouring "Methoxide" Into Processor |
|6- Mixing The Oil causes the chemical reacation to occur |
|7- Allow Oil To Separate |
|8- Remove Glycerin Layer |
|9- Washing The Biodiesel |
Washing can be done using a water mister and a bubbler
- Using a light-mist, add 15 Gallons of water to the processor
- Allow processor to sit for 10 minutes
- Drain off water
- Using a more agressive mist, add another 15 Gallons of water
- Allow processor to sit for another 10 minutes
- Do not drain the water, it will be used for the Bubbling
- Place bubbler at bottom of processor and turn on
- Begin with a light bubble
- Watch for emulsion to occur, if not occuring, turn up bubbler
- Bubble Biodiesel for at least 24 hours
- Turn off the bubbler
|10- Allow Water & Oil To Separate |
|11- Remove Water Layer |
|12- Transfer To Storage Container The container's should be able to handle Gasoline or Diesel, as Biodiesel has a similar chemical make-up. |
|13- Allow Biodiesel To Dry |
This step allows all of the excess moisture to evaporate out of the Biodiesel.
|14- Fill Fuel Tank |
- Biodiesel should be treated much like Diesel Fuel
- Pure Biodiesel can be run in vehicles in tempuratures over 40 degrees Farenheit
- In cold weather it can be mixed with Diesel Fuel in a 50/50 mixture to keep it from gelling
- Biodiesel tends to loosen "gunk buildup" in Diesel Fuel Tanks
- You may need to replace your Fuel Filter after a few tanks
- Enjoy driving on a completely renewable resource!
Biodiesel RecipesThe method described above is just one of many way's to produce Biodiesel. Below are some links to additional methods for making Biodiesel.
- Kitchen-Biodiesel based off of Tilly's World Famous Dr. Pepper Method.
- Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial Great site teaches you how to make biodiesel.
- Basic Biodiesel Production Information from Journey to Forever. Good primer to go through before attempting to make biodiesel for your first time.
- Mike Pelly's Recipe from the Journey to Forever website. Seems to be a gold-standard for making Biodiesel among the community.
- Wikipedia Biodiesel Recipe Well written recipe for making a small batch of Biodiesel. I believe it's based off of Mike Pelly's recipe.
- World Famous Dr. Pepper Method - Part 1 Part I of a recipe for making a small batch of Biodiesel in a Dr. Pepper bottle. Followed by many the first time they make biodiesel.
- World Famous Dr. Pepper Method - Part 2 Part II for finishing up the batch made in the Dr. Pepper bottle.
- Dangerous Laboratories Great instructions for making a batch of Biodiesel for the first time. Complete with pictures and detailed instructions.
BIODIESEL AND CHEMICAL HANDLING GUIDELINES (MSDS Sheets)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
- Soy Gold Biodiesel MSDS Soy Gold Biodiesel MSDS
- Iowa State University Methanol MSDS: Methanol MSDS
- Iowa State University Ethanol 95% MSDS: Ethanol 95% MSDS
- Iowa State University Sodium Hydroxide MSDS: Sodium Hydroxide MSDS
- Iowa State University Potassium Hydroxide 2M:Sodium Hydroxide MSDS
- Iowa State University Sulfuric Acid 18M MSDS: Sulfuric Acid 18M MSDS
Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards . GUIDE
Iowa State University Glycerine MSDS: Glycerine MSDS