The Future of FuelThe Future of Fuel

Biodiesel Production Biodiesel Production

What is Biodiesel?What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a fuel Biodiesel is a fuel for conventional for conventional Diesel engines Diesel engines made from plant or made from plant or animal oils that animal oils that have been have been chemically altered chemically altered to alkyl esters. to alkyl esters.

Biodiesel is a fuel for conventional Biodiesel is a fuel for conventional Diesel engines…. Diesel engines….

Diesel engines are Diesel engines are compression-ignition compression-ignition engines developed by engines developed by Rudolph DieselRudolph Diesel

Diesel engines were Diesel engines were originally designed to run originally designed to run on peanut oil, not mineral on peanut oil, not mineral diesel. diesel.

Diesels have been made Diesels have been made which run on milk powder, which run on milk powder, coal dust and straight coal dust and straight vegetable oil. vegetable oil.

……made from plant or animal oils or made from plant or animal oils or fats…fats…

Biodiesel can made from a Biodiesel can made from a very wide range of ‘feed very wide range of ‘feed stocks’. stocks’.

They can be animal fats They can be animal fats and tallows, or vegetable and tallows, or vegetable oils. Algae can even be oils. Algae can even be usedused

We make biodiesel from We make biodiesel from waste vegetable oil from waste vegetable oil from deep-fryers. deep-fryers.

……that have been chemically that have been chemically transformed into alkyl esters. transformed into alkyl esters.

Normally, straight vegetable Normally, straight vegetable oil is too viscous to be used oil is too viscous to be used in a modern diesel engine. in a modern diesel engine.

We chemically transform the We chemically transform the oil to make it thinner. This oil to make it thinner. This process is called trans-process is called trans-esterification.esterification.

This means the fuel is now This means the fuel is now compatible with modern compatible with modern conventional engines. conventional engines.

Other ways of making the oil less Other ways of making the oil less viscousviscous

Heat the oil on the way to Heat the oil on the way to the engine. This would the engine. This would require small require small modifications to your modifications to your engine.engine.

Mixing the oil with a Mixing the oil with a thinner, such as white thinner, such as white spirit. This does produce spirit. This does produce more toxic chemicalsmore toxic chemicals

Or, simply modify the Or, simply modify the engine to accept viscous engine to accept viscous fuels. This costs around fuels. This costs around £2000 and is sometimes £2000 and is sometimes impractical. impractical.

Trans-esterificationTrans-esterification

Triglycerides + Methanol = Methyl Esters + GlycerolTriglycerides + Methanol = Methyl Esters + Glycerol

A catalyst is needed for this reaction.

Potassium hydroxide (KOH)

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

Health and SafetyHealth and Safety

OilOilMethanolMethanolPotassium hydroxidePotassium hydroxideHeatingHeating

GlovesGlovesGogglesGoggles

TitrationTitration

If we were using fresh veg oil, you would If we were using fresh veg oil, you would need 9g of KOH per litreneed 9g of KOH per litre

Used veg oil has more acids and so needs Used veg oil has more acids and so needs more KOHmore KOH

To find out how much KOH you need you To find out how much KOH you need you would need to perform a titrationwould need to perform a titration

TitrationTitration

Add 10ml of isopropyl alcohol to a beakerAdd 10ml of isopropyl alcohol to a beakerAdd a few drops of indicator and stirAdd a few drops of indicator and stirAdd 0.5ml of KOH solution to the solutionAdd 0.5ml of KOH solution to the solutionContinue to add the KOH, 0.5mls at a Continue to add the KOH, 0.5mls at a

time, until the red colour persists after time, until the red colour persists after stirring. The isopropyl alcohol is now pH stirring. The isopropyl alcohol is now pH neutralneutral

TitrationTitration Add 1ml of the waste oil to the solution and stir. Add 1ml of the waste oil to the solution and stir.

The red colour will disappear as the oil has The red colour will disappear as the oil has made the solution acidic.made the solution acidic.

Continue adding KOH, 0.5ml’s at a time, until the Continue adding KOH, 0.5ml’s at a time, until the red colour persists. Record how much KOH you red colour persists. Record how much KOH you put into the solution. put into the solution.

The amount of KOH (ml’s) it takes to neutralise The amount of KOH (ml’s) it takes to neutralise 1ml of oil equates to the number of grams of 1ml of oil equates to the number of grams of KOH it takes to neutralise a litreKOH it takes to neutralise a litre

How to make biodieselHow to make biodiesel

Mix 100mls of methanol with 4g of KOH Mix 100mls of methanol with 4g of KOH and stirand stir

Add this ‘methoxide’ to 500mls oil, heat to Add this ‘methoxide’ to 500mls oil, heat to around 40C, and stir. Stir for 10 mins.around 40C, and stir. Stir for 10 mins.

Leave the mixture to settle overnightLeave the mixture to settle overnightSeparate the biodiesel from the glycerolSeparate the biodiesel from the glycerol