My biggest concern about mixing flammable materials in a blender is
that in industry, you would normally see explosion proof motors used
in such an application. If your container seal leaks and a flammable
mixture gets inside the motor enclosure, you might get a small
explosion.
In fact there have been cases of blender seals leaking, but not of
explosions as a result, or not that I've heard (I probably would have
heard). But blenders aren't the best way - mix it first (see below),
then add it to the oil in the blender.
My risk assessments are not always on the "safety at whatever cost"
side of the spectrum. So, if I have a concern, I won't mention it
unless I think it poses a relatively high probability of going
"poof!".
Mike
Thomas Giguiere <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hello Biodeisel mavens! I have started my preliminary experimentation
with the biodeisel manufacturing process. Everything is going alright,
but I have concerns about the safety of methanol.
Please see this previous message (and quite a few others):
http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/45586/
I bought a 5 gallon drum of methanol for use in my experiments.
Finding that it was difficult to transfer it from the drum to my
measuring cup,
Use an aquarium air-pump to pump it out. Just adapt the lid - two
holes, the air goes in one, a ppe fits in the other, going down to
the bottom of the drum and leading to your jug or mixing container
(graduated mixing containers are better than measuring cups for this).
I have transfered it to a white, 5-gallon "fuel
transporter" that a lot of dirt biking enthusiasts use to pour fuel
into their bikes. It is easier to pour from this container, but is it
safe to store it in it? Is methanol going to eat through or otherwise
interact with the plastic?
It might depend what kind of plastic it is, if it's HDPE there won't
be any problem. But I've never known methanol eat any kind of
plastic. It seems to harden some types, but hasn't made them brittle,
or not so you'd notice, and hasn't eaten through anything.
Also, I am mixing up the lye and methanol in a blender. Does this pose
serious saftey hazards.
Not if you're careful, but this is the easiest, safest and best way:
Methoxide the easy way
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_aleksnew.html#easymeth
I do all this at my fathers house (he has more backyard space than
me). I just don't want to blow his propety up.
Not much danger of that, it's not a very hazardous process, there
have been very few accidents, none of them serious, and I think all
due to carelessness.
Best wishes
Keith
Any info is appreciated
Best Regards,
Thomas
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