Since I signed on a few weeks ago, I have been researching like crazy the feasibility of small scale biodiesel from WVO in my community - rochester new york.
my question is: how to meet ASTM standards and the biggest problem I encounter is methanol RECLAIMATION. So, if you have an answer, please forward. if you are interested in my research so far, read on. a number of companies produce biodiesel to ASTM standards in the USA. In particular, Ocean Air does a million gallons a month. They use the basic formula, tickell uses, NaOH, Methanol, WVO or Virgin (often Soy) oil. But, they reclaim methanol, purify glycerine to cosmetic grade, reclaim catalyst, purify out Fatty Acids AND have a patended capacity to produce fuel from reclaimed fatty acids. Needless to say, they did not explain this to me. However, if its patended, its available to enterprising research maniacs. Washing Biodiesel removes some fatty acids, all methanol from the biodiesel ( but not the glycerine unless you wash that too). Washing alone does not meet ASTM due to the residual fatty acids. Biodisel.org either in a bow to soy growers or out of real concern for diesel engines prints for following text at http://www.biodiesel.org/perils_of_home-brew.htm Their concern is free fatty acids, free methanol and engine wear. Washing alone leave fatty acids adn creates an environmental problem to anyone who want to make a quantity of product. Another issue is density. the Methanol content makes a true calculation of specific gravity impossible, to really check that, you need a methanol free product. To REALLY meet ASTM standards, http://www.biodiesel.org/default2.htm one might need to do a gas chromotography analysis to check for unreacted components, acids etc. So, thats it for now...if anyone knows of a small scale production (over 100 gallons a week, under 1000 a week) and a inexpensive way to meet ASTM standards, follow up. Or, if you have evidence that some of these standards simply a mechanism to "corner the market" for agribusiness by creating a false notion WVO biodiesel is unmarketable, post it up. thanks . ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Get your FREE credit report with a FREE CreditCheck Monitoring Service trial http://us.click.yahoo.com/ACHqaB/bQ8CAA/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/
