Todd, Thanks for the input. I am planning to try again this weekend, and do exactly what you suggest, adhere to the instructions more precisely.
Brian --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, "Appal Energy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Brian, > > Any other thoughts? Other than going back and adhering to the instructions > more precisely? > > Nope. Not a one. > > What you apparently have is an incomplete reaction on the base side, leaving > you with a compliment of esters and emulsifiers, the latter being unreacted > mono- and di-glycerides. > > Todd Swearingen > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 7:27 AM > Subject: [biofuel] What went wrong? > > > > Well, my first test batch is done, and the end result is less than > > spectacular. Wondering if anyone has any ideas. > > > > I completed the second stage as instructed. 1/2 of my methoxide in, > > mix for 5 minutes, heat to 130 F, add the remaining methoxide and > > mix hot until nice golden amber. This only took about 10 minutes, > > and I continued mixing for a total of 15. Since the instructions > > say it will take one and a half to two hours, I think this may be > > one place that things went wrong, although the appearance when I > > finished was just as described. > > > > I let the mixture settle in an old 2 liter soda bottle for about 6 > > hours, and it looked exactly like the pictures on the JTF web site. > > Clear, golden amber layer on top with dark glycerol on the bottom. > > I called the test batch a great success and went on to wash my new > > biodiesel, which is where the problem came up. I put about 1/3 > > liter water in a clean 2 liter bottle, decanted the biodiesel on top > > of it, then shook. I probably shook a little vigorously, but with > > the assumption that the foolproof method would leave me with product > > which could withstand this type of washing. What I have now is a > > cloudy, murky yellow layer of nearly one liter followed by a guhky > > layer looking most like old soap scum and then a small amount of > > cloudy water. Since the middle layer looks like soap scum, I am > > assuming that is exactly what it is. I assume also that the upper > > layer is biodiesel with water still in it, and may clear > > eventually. The bottom layer is obviously water with the water > > soluble leftovers from the biodiesel process. > > > > My take on the problem is that either I did not heat and stir long > > enough in stage two, overheated in stage one or agitated too > > vigorously in the wash stage. I think it is probably a combination > > of not enough processing in stage two and overzealous agitation in > > washing that caused the problem. Any other thoughts? > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/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/
