Pierre, We've seen a similar type of result before, but not when working with a 100% SVO. In that case it was an oil that was rich in animal tallow. The white layer was unconverted fats.
If you want to figure out what that center layer is and what happened, I'd suggest a couple of things. 1) Separate the three layers. 2) Take a sample of the top layer and retreat it to see if you get any more glycerol to drop. If it does, you know that your reaction didn't complete and the cottony layer may be uncoverted animal fats. 3) Take a sample of the "cottony' layer and attempt to melt it. If it's an unreacted fat it should melt at hand temperature. If it's a soap it won't melt anywhere near as readily. Rather doubtful that it's soap. If so it would have migrated to the bottom layer of crude glycerol due to it's molecular weight. 4) If a sample of the "cottony" layer melts readily, retreat it. If it is primarily a tallow layer you'll still find that the finished fuel may solidify at temps as high as 50-60*F. That's one of the sad facts of almost pure methyl tallowate. 5) If the "cottony" layer doesn't melt readily and you have some 85% Phosphoric or 95-98% sulfuric acid on hand, see what happens to a sample as you add 1/2 ml at a time to a 5-10 sample. Wait several hours between each testing and keep the sample's temp elevated. If for some odd reason that layer has a high soap content, you'll see something similar to the separation found in the pics at http://www.journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_glycsep.html In any event, judging by what you've relayed, it's probably a semi- safe bet that the feedstock you used wasn't "pure" canola and that the general problem is simply an almost but not quite complete reaction. All in all, it doesn't sound as if you're too far off the beaten path. A little prudent foolin' around should get you home free. If not, please repost. Todd Swearingen --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Is it soap? > > Pierre > > > > --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > I sent a message 2-3 days ago. Hasn't shown up yet. I'll try > again: > > > > Hello fellow biodieselers! I can say that now that I made my > first > > batch. > > > > It was just a 1 litre batch, here's how I went about it: > > > > - .2 l methanol (99.9%) with 3.5 g gillett lye (100%) shaken in a > > jar on and off over a few hours > > - 1 l new canola oil > > - mixed all together with mechanical stirrer for 2 hours over > > hotplate maintaining heat around 53 deg C. > > > > Settled over night. > > > > Top layer (85% total volume) clear honey coloured. > > Middle layer (8%) white filamentous & cottony layer. > > Bottom layer - almost opaque dark yellow gelatinous. > > > > I'm pretty sure what the top and bottom layers are. What about > the > > middle layer? > > > > Pierre ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
