Biodiesel Recipes and Processes
Single Stage Base RecipesSingle Stage Base Processing is the most often used style of making biodiesel. There is no one single recipe for biodiesel that will fit everyone's needs. That's because, we make compromises when building our recipe. Quality and Cost are the two major influences the compromise. |
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Making Biodiesel requires the use of flammable, toxic liquids and strong caustics to make a fuel. No matter what safety precautions are put in place or what equipment you use, making biodiesel will never be a safe hobby and can place you, your property, and your family at risk of injury or even death. Make Biodiesel at your own risk. |
Two Stage Base / Base RecipesTwo stage base processing is splitting processing into two steps with a draining of raw glycerine in between two mixing stages. We use these recipes to improve quality or reduce costs further than can be done with single stage recipes. |
Two Stage Acid / Base RecipesTwo stage acid/base recipes increase yeilds by converting FFA into biodiesel instead of converting it into soap. Acid Base processing is an advanced technique and is not for beginers. |
Biodiesel Recipe Calculators and Loggers
Calculators
Loyola University Chicago Biodiesel Calculator
Excel Download Eric's Biodiesel-o-matic Spreadsheet
Loggers
Download Jon's Brew Logger and Calculator
The Glycerin TreatmentYou can lower the titration number of your WVO by using a technique I'm calling Glycerin Stripping. It's really simple, you add the raw glycerin from a previous batch to your WVO, heat, stir, settle, and decant. The treatment not only reduces the titration number, it also reduces the methanol needed for processing, lowers water content, and cleans the oil before processing. |
Order Counts the AAF MethodOn the vegetableoildiesel.co.uk forum, they have come up with the AAF method. It basically is you reverse the process around. Add methoxide to the reactor first, then add hot oil slowly to the methoxide. It speeds up the reaction giving finished product faster than when the other method is used. |
Reprocessing Bad BatchesBeginners and Experts alike will sometimes take shortcuts that result in bad batches, like skipping the test batch, or not checking their oil for water. When we make a bad batch we want to fix it. After all, we have invested time and money in this oil and want to get it back in the form of biodiesel. |
Urea Clathration: Ultra Low Gel Point BiodieselGel Point, Cloud Point, Pour Point. These are the bane of biodiesel. It is the the source of endless winter problems for biodiesel users. One of the solutions is Urea Clathration, a commercial process that makes biodiesel with a gel point below -65°F. |
5% Water PrewashThe concept is that you add water after the reaction is complete, but before settling has started. This helps the settling process, giving a faster more complete settling. Testing has shown a 30% to 50% reduction in soaps in the unwashed biodiesel. I have seen 95% settling in as little as 30 minutes. |
Caustic Stripping with Soda AshThis method was posted on the infopop forum by uniquewater in September of 2006. It is a variant on caustic stripping with lye. The WVO in the pictures was lowered from a KOH titration of 10ml down to 1ml! |