How to make your own biodiesel

Diesel is used as fuel for various types of vehicles, including:

• Construction equipment
• Delivery vehicles
• heavy trucks
• Road tractors
• passenger cars
• Diesel heaters

Diesel fuel is an excellent source of energy because it is relatively safe compared to the more flammable gasoline option. Diesel engines also usually have more torque than gasoline engines and are reasonably reliable.

As with gasoline, diesel prices can fluctuate wildly. When the cost of diesel fuel becomes too high, you can look for another source of fuel. Because diesel is actually a type of oil, you can replace it with an alternative fuel source like vegetable oil to run your diesel engine, although it needs to be processed first.

Making your own biodiesel is possible right at home if you have a clean, safe, well-ventilated workspace and attention to detail.

• A warning: Read and understand the instructions completely before you start producing biodiesel to prevent accidents, injury or fire.

Part 1 of 3. Setting up the workplace

Necessary materials

• Fire extinguisher
• Controlled heat source, such as a hotplate
• Nitrile gloves
• Protective gown or coat (for handling flammable products)
• Respirator (for fuel vapors)
• Protective glasses

The environment in which you will produce biodiesel must be clean and well ventilated.

Step 1: Prepare your workspace. Set up your workbench for biodiesel production only and keep it tidy.

Step 2: Get ready. Keep a fire extinguisher within reach of your work area.

Step 3: Control the Environment. Constantly monitor the environmental microclimate to ensure minimal differences in the final product.

Step 4: Keep your phone handy. Keep a phone nearby in case of an emergency.

Part 2 of 3: Cook Biodiesel

The oil you use to make biodiesel needs to be mixed with methoxide to separate the oil into biodiesel and glycerin.

• A warningA: This is the most dangerous part of the biodiesel production process. Be very careful as you will be working with a heat source and harmful chemicals.

Necessary materials

• bottles
• trumpet
• Large capacity saucepan
• long spoon
• Lye (sodium hydroxide)
• Methanol
• Pure vegetable oil
• Respirator (for fuel vapors)

• Thermometer (choose one that goes up to 300 F)

• A warning: Alkali is very caustic and can cause burns to the skin, lungs and eyes. Always wear skin, eye and respiratory protection when using lye.

• A warning: Methanol is highly flammable and can burn eyes and cause skin irritation.

Step 1: Put on your protective gear. Wear protective gear whenever you are working on biodiesel production.

Step 2: Pour the oil into a large pot.. You want to raise the temperature slowly, so a tall, narrow pot is better than a wide bottomed pot.

Hang the thermometer in the oil.

You will need to keep a close eye on the temperature of the oil as you heat it up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3: Mix the methoxide. For every gallon of oil, you will need 10 grams of lye and 750 ml of methanol.

Pour the methanol into a vessel, such as a bottle.

Place the lye in the methanol, being careful not to inhale the corrosive dust.

• A warning: Do not add methanol to lye! This will cause a violent chemical reaction that can cause excessive heat, resulting in burns, explosions and injury.

Mix the lye and methanol so that they are completely mixed. Seal the container.

Step 4: Apply oil to the heat source and turn it on.. Slowly heat the oil until it reaches 130F. Temperature must be accurate for proper end results.

Step 5: Pour into a Vessel. Pour the heated oil into the methanol vessel using a large funnel.

Stir the mixture well with a long spoon for 2-3 minutes.

The subsequent reaction separates the biodiesel from the glycerol in the oil. The glycerin will float to the top.

Part 3 of 3: Separate Biodiesel from Glycerin

Necessary materials

• buster (large capacity)
• Diesel fuel tank
• trumpet

Step 1: Leave the mixture on for 3-5 days.. The biodiesel will be the clear top layer and the cloudy glycerin will sink to the bottom.

• Attention: If the biodiesel appears cloudy at all, leave it for another day and then recheck.

Step 2: Separate Biodiesel from Glycerin. Since the biodiesel is on top, drain it into a clean, labeled diesel container.

Drain the biodiesel until the glycerin flows out. It's better to leave a few ounces of biodiesel than to contaminate the fuel system with glycerin.

Alternatively, you can use a buster to slowly suck the diesel out of your boat.

Step 3: Fill your car with biodiesel. The odor from your exhaust may have a slight "french fries" smell because you are using biodiesel. Don't be scared about this.

Making your own biodiesel can save you large amounts of money, but it's produced in a less controlled environment than regular diesel. There may be a higher moisture content, so if your vehicle is equipped with a fuel/water separator valve, be sure to check it regularly and drain the water.