I made my first batch in the lab today, as follows: 500ml WVO, filtered & dried 100ml+25ml methanol 2g NaOH
This was after titrating the WVO to determine it took only .5ml to turn the ppth indicator bright purple. (it was barely used oil). So I figured a total of 4g NaOH per litre, or 2g for my .5l batch. A few things that went wrong (?): Before I could tell him otherwise, my helper dumped the 100ml methanol in the flask on the mixer base... Hmmm. So we made a small batch of 25ml methanol and 2g NaOH, and dissolved it using the mixer, then added to the oil. All looked fine - the oil went murky during mixing. After a while, I decided perhaps I should add some heat to the ~20C oil mix, so I turned on the heat for a minute or two - within a minute the oil become more transparent, and things seemed to be happening. I turned off the heat, estimating the temp to be around 40-50C and let it stir for 75minutes. After 75 minutes, there were signs of darker deposits near the bottom of the flask, and stopping the mixer showed clear separation within a minute or two. An hour later, I had a dark layer of glycerine about 10% by volume, I'd guess, and fairly clear biodiesel (I hope) on top, with no other layers. I will leave it overnight to settle further. Next: I hope to wash using the bubble method, then somehow test for quality. What methods are available to test quality, reaction completeness, etc, in a well equipped high school chem lab? ps: Both teachers assisting me with this drive VW diesels, but I suspect my Jetta TD will be the first one to actually have a taste of it... Shawn & Janis Wright [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright (Olympus List Archives) ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Cobra Gas Powered Scooter. Top speed exceeds 25 mph. Originally $599.95. Now $399.95 at Youcansave.com. http://us.click.yahoo.com/K11sED/OkNDAA/ySSFAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
