Mark, Earlier I was curious if you were using oil or an oil/fat blend (WVO). Should it be presumed that the feedstock at the beginning of the second stage and prior to reheating is still liquid? If so, should it be presumed that there was a layer of extra alcohol above the oil, perhaps slightly darkened?
If so, and were it me, I'd separate the feedstock from such a layer and then conduct the second stage, just to isolate variables. Second, if you're getting "jelly" out of a SVO, you might wish to back off the caustic some. Jelly, or glop soap is a condition that results from too much caustic in the presence of water. It doesn't take much to push what is primarily a transesterification reaction into one that is directed towards saponification (soap making, aka "jelly"). You might (or perhaps might not) care to take a look here. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Biodiesel/message/2504 It's a step by step "how to" that runs the base side of an acid base experiment in three separate stages, rather than all at once. That's not to declare that it should be done in such a manner. But it does indicate that glycerin drop in the second stage can occur with less than a requisite amount of caustic. Take your time and take no short cuts. It works and works well. Todd Swearingen ----- Original Message ----- From: "mark schofield" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 7:51 AM Subject: Re: [biofuel] Two-stage Process - jelly? > Dear Keith and All > > Unlike some other e-mails I'll descibe exactly > what I have done. > > 500cc virgin vegetable oil (non-specific type) > Heated to 35'C > 80cc 99.5% Methanol added > Stirred for 5 minutes > Add 0.5cc (10 drops) of 97% H2SO4 > Stir at 35'C for 1 hour - 600 rpm > Stir without heat for 1 hr - 600 rpm > Settle for 8 hrs > [ At all time the vessel has been covered with > tightly fitting cling film with only a very small > hole for the thermo-couple to go in (maybe 1.5 to > 2mm diameter). Methanol loss is negligable. ] > > No glycerine at all. The product has not settled > but is still liquid. This is virgin oil never > used fresh from the super market ASDA here, now > owned by WoolMart. > > This morning - heated the oil to 55'C. Will add > 3.1g NaOH plus 120cc of Methanol. If this turns > to jelly then I will repeat again and see what > happens. > > The single stage process works a treat every > time, producing good clean ME. > > Keith, so the extra NaOH on top of that required > to drive the reaction neutralises the FFA's (in > used oil) and extracts them as soap in the final > wash? > > Regards > > Mark :-( > > > __________________________________________________ > Yahoo! Plus - For a better Internet experience > http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/yplus/yoffer.html > > > > 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/ > > > ------------------------ 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/
