Hi So after playing with the single stage for a while, I have produced a good clear final product. I have bought a hot plate magnetic stirrer for $360 USD that has helped for titrations etc.
I have played with the two stage process and the final product has turned to jelly. I have followed the 2-stage instructions exactly - timer, burettes, +/- 1mg weighing scale, 97% H2SO4, hot plate stirrer with closed loop temperature control and digit speed and temp output. The chemicals are all analytical grade and the oil requires only 0.1cc of 0.1M NaOH solution to pH 8.5. I heat 1000cc of oil up to 35'C. I add 80cc of 99.5% Methanol and stir for 5 minutes. I then add 1cc of 97% H2SO4 and stir for 1 hour. I then cut the heat and stir for a further hour. The mixture does not separate but is left for minimum 8hrs usually 12. I re-heat the still liquid mixture to 55'C and add 3.5g NaOH and 120cc Methanol. I stir for 1 hr and leave to settle. The final product doesn't settle and congeals over time. Keith - I am lost. Some where along the line soap is formed. I will re-run the experiment and comment tomorrow. On a larger scale - could a 1um filter / coalescer unit be used to pre-process heated oil? Regards Mark __________________________________________________ Yahoo! Plus - For a better Internet experience http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/yplus/yoffer.html ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Get A Free Psychic Reading! Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions. http://us.click.yahoo.com/Lj3uPC/Me7FAA/CNxFAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ 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/