| Increasingly, there are a growing number of | | | | Making sure to follow all safety guidelines, the first |
| options available to people wishing to use cleaner | | | | step is to mix the methanol and lye to form |
| and/or renewable fuels. One such option is to | | | | methoxide. |
| actually make your own fuel! If you are | | | | First, measure 250 mL of methanol into the |
| interested in making your own biodiesel, this guide | | | | mixing container, and then add 4 grams of lye. |
| will take you through the process of doing so. | | | | Seal the container immediately and swirl by hand |
| Safety alert | | | | until the lye has completely dissolved. The |
| The home preparation of biodiesel involves the | | | | chemical reaction to form methanol will happen |
| chemicals lye (Caustic soda) and methanol. Lye | | | | spontaneously as the two ingredients are mixed; |
| is a corrosive chemical ìbaseî which can | | | | the reaction should take ten minutes or more to |
| cause burns to exposed skin; it is important to | | | | ensure complete conversion. This reaction will |
| avoid direct contact with this chemical. Methanol | | | | produce a certain amount of heat, which is |
| is an alcohol which is toxic if ingested. The | | | | perfectly normal. |
| chemical which will be formed by the mixing of lye | | | | Next, the clean vegetable oil must be heated to |
| and methanol, methoxide, forms toxic vapors. | | | | 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit), and |
| These chemical dangers are akin to other dangers | | | | the hot oil funneled into the plastic bottle. Using |
| found around the typical home, including drain clog | | | | the same funnel and taking care not to breathe |
| removing products, cleaning products, antifreeze | | | | any fumes, pour the methoxide produced in the |
| and other automotive chemicals, and many | | | | first step into the plastic container containing the |
| others. In fact, there is nothing more dangerous | | | | heated oil. Immediately seal the bottle as tightly |
| about the production of biodiesel than is involved | | | | as possible and shake vigorously for about |
| in using any number of common home chemicals | | | | twenty seconds. |
| which can be lethal if ingested; however, simple | | | | Now, leave the bottle to rest until the biodiesel |
| steps must be taken to minimize the risks, which | | | | has separated clearly from the methanol. The |
| will be outlined in the next section. | | | | biodiesel will settle on top, and will be light in color |
| Preparation | | | | if done correctly. Especially well prepared |
| Before you begin the actual preparation of | | | | biodiesel will be virtually clear. Underneath the |
| biodiesel, care should be taken to ensure a clean, | | | | layer of biodiesel will be a darker layer of |
| and most importantly, a safe working | | | | glycerol. The separation of biodiesel from |
| environment. First, the area should be clean and | | | | glycerol may begin to appear within ten minutes, |
| dry, and the working area must be well | | | | but will take a number of hours to complete; |
| ventilated. Any windows should be opened as | | | | hence this may be something to be left overnight. |
| fully as possible, and preferably fans should be in | | | | The final step is to extract the biodiesel from the |
| operation as well. Safety equipment should be | | | | bottle. It is even safe to use your finger to hold |
| worn, including: a plastic laboratory apron, plastic | | | | back the lower layer of glycerol while letting the |
| (or vinyl) safety gloves, and face/eye protection. | | | | biodiesel pour out. |
| Materials | | | | Washing and Testing Biodiesel |
| To make biodiesel at home, the following | | | | It is often a good idea to "wash" your biodiesel |
| materials will be needed: | | | | after it is produced to ensure that it is as pure as |
| - 1 liter of NEW vegetable oil, which can be of any | | | | possible, and thus the best fuel possible. If you |
| sort. Use a cheap version to save money. | | | | are really dedicated, you can even test the quality |
| - Lye, also known as caustic soda (sodium | | | | of your refined and washed biodiesel. |
| hydroxide) | | | | Conclusions |
| - Methanol (methyl alcohol) | | | | While care must be taken to perform this |
| - A measuring cup with which to measure 250 | | | | operation safely, the production of biodiesel is an |
| mL of methanol | | | | easy procedure which requires no advanced |
| - A clean, dry, 2 liter plastic bottle. This is where | | | | knowledge of chemistry. If done correctly, the |
| the biodiesel will be made. | | | | product of this simple procedure will be fuel which |
| - A clean, dry plastic funnel | | | | can run your diesel car or truck, and fuel which |
| - A clean dry, container in which to mix the | | | | can be of a quality that rivals commercially made |
| methanol and lye | | | | biodiesel when prepared expertly. |
| Procedure | | | | |