Waste Grease to Bio-fuelWaste Grease to Bio-fuel

Neva J. ThompsonNeva J. Thompson

Bio-fuel is environmentally friendly

It has fewer emissions, is biodegradable and is a renewable source

PROS OF USING BIO-FUELPROS OF USING BIO-FUEL

Using as small amount as 20% Bio-Using as small amount as 20% Bio-Diesel can reduce carbon dioxide by Diesel can reduce carbon dioxide by 15%15%

If Spilled, it causes less damage as it If Spilled, it causes less damage as it is biodegradable and non-toxicis biodegradable and non-toxic

Has a high flash point of higher than Has a high flash point of higher than 150° C where diesel has a flash point 150° C where diesel has a flash point of 52° C making it easier to handle, of 52° C making it easier to handle, store and to transportstore and to transport

More ProsMore Pros

Biodiesel adds to an engines Biodiesel adds to an engines movement, and acts as a solvent to movement, and acts as a solvent to loosen up deposits from the inside of loosen up deposits from the inside of an engine and adds none of its own.an engine and adds none of its own.

It is 10 times less toxic that table It is 10 times less toxic that table salt. salt.

Cons to Bio-FuelCons to Bio-Fuel

The emissions of Bio-diesel are higher The emissions of Bio-diesel are higher in Nitrogen Oxide which causes smog.in Nitrogen Oxide which causes smog.

Bio-diesel being a solvent can cause Bio-diesel being a solvent can cause some clogging problems in older some clogging problems in older engines.engines.

It also breaks down rubber parts such It also breaks down rubber parts such as fuel filters and fuel pump sealsas fuel filters and fuel pump seals

More ConsMore Cons

There can be a slight decrease in fuel There can be a slight decrease in fuel economy and about a 10% decrease economy and about a 10% decrease in power.in power.

The cost is higher, B100 is from The cost is higher, B100 is from $1.95 to $3.00 a gallon higher$1.95 to $3.00 a gallon higher

It is not readily available in most It is not readily available in most states.states.

Making Your Fuel at HomeMaking Your Fuel at Home

It is not recommended that you It is not recommended that you make your bio-diesel at homemake your bio-diesel at home

There are many websites that can There are many websites that can guide you through the processguide you through the process

It can be complicated and if not done It can be complicated and if not done correctly, very costly in engine correctly, very costly in engine repairsrepairs

IngredientsIngredients

Around 15 quarts of waste vegetable Around 15 quarts of waste vegetable oil (WVO) -- used cooking oil, fryer oil (WVO) -- used cooking oil, fryer grease, animal fats, lardgrease, animal fats, lard

Methanol (CH3OH) -- 99%+ pureMethanol (CH3OH) -- 99%+ pure Sodium hydroxide (NaOH -- caustic Sodium hydroxide (NaOH -- caustic

soda, lye) -- Found in drain Cleaner) soda, lye) -- Found in drain Cleaner) must be drymust be dry

Procedure for Day 1Procedure for Day 1

Filter out any food scraps or other Filter out any food scraps or other solidssolids

If needed, heat to evaporate water If needed, heat to evaporate water from oil, it is recommended on from oil, it is recommended on keeping the batches small and keeping the batches small and everything in one place. Do not over everything in one place. Do not over heat or burn the oil. heat or burn the oil.

MethanolMethanol

Methanol is very corrosive, Methanol is very corrosive, flammable and dangerous; it does flammable and dangerous; it does not have to be ingested but can be not have to be ingested but can be absorbed by the skin so wear absorbed by the skin so wear protective equipment and a protective equipment and a respirator.respirator.

Use only equipment rated for this use Use only equipment rated for this use

Mixing Methanol and LyeMixing Methanol and Lye

Use true measurements to measure the Use true measurements to measure the lye, just a few grains more or less can lye, just a few grains more or less can make the difference in you bio-dieselmake the difference in you bio-diesel

Mix about 3 quarts of methanol and Mix about 3 quarts of methanol and about 3 quarts of lye in a large can about 3 quarts of lye in a large can using a drill with a large bit on it.using a drill with a large bit on it.

The liquid will get warm when the The liquid will get warm when the wanted chemical reaction occurs.wanted chemical reaction occurs.

There is no need for Expensive equipment, Homemade will work Well.

Mixing the Oil and Sodium Mixing the Oil and Sodium Meth-oxide Meth-oxide

Pour the cleaned oil into a clean 5 Pour the cleaned oil into a clean 5 gallon bucket and mix in ½ of the gallon bucket and mix in ½ of the sodium meth-oxide. sodium meth-oxide.

Only mixing in ½ at a time allows the Only mixing in ½ at a time allows the remaining mixture to melt any remaining mixture to melt any remaining lye crystals.remaining lye crystals.

There should be a bubbling and There should be a bubbling and swirling reaction when all is added swirling reaction when all is added and mixed. and mixed.

Notice the rich color and The method used to mixThe oil and Sodium Meth-oxide

Glycerin Glycerin

Mixing causes the contents to start Mixing causes the contents to start getting thick, this is the glycerin breaking getting thick, this is the glycerin breaking out. out.

Mix for 30 minutes and allow to stand Mix for 30 minutes and allow to stand overnight for the glycerin to completely overnight for the glycerin to completely settle out.settle out.

The next day the glycerin should be at The next day the glycerin should be at the bottom of the bucket and a dark the bottom of the bucket and a dark color.color.

FilteringFiltering

Use a commercial Use a commercial grade restaurant grade restaurant filtering bags in the filtering bags in the 5-10 micron range 5-10 micron range to catch any debristo catch any debris

Do not avoid this Do not avoid this step, the fuel may step, the fuel may look clear but do look clear but do not take the chancenot take the chance

Washing the FuelWashing the Fuel

Some people “wash” the fuel but Some people “wash” the fuel but adding equal amounts of water and adding equal amounts of water and allow the water to settle out carrying allow the water to settle out carrying the un-dissolved chemicals with it. the un-dissolved chemicals with it. Drain off the bio-diesel fuel. Drain off the bio-diesel fuel.

Add to your TankAdd to your Tank

You can buy a You can buy a pump and pump it pump and pump it in or use a funnel in or use a funnel and a bucket but and a bucket but the results are the the results are the same, Fuel for your same, Fuel for your vehicle.vehicle.

ConclusionConclusion

Using waste to create fuel for our vehicles Using waste to create fuel for our vehicles has been around almost from the start of has been around almost from the start of vehicles.vehicles.

It makes good sense to reuse this product to It makes good sense to reuse this product to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help clean our environment.help clean our environment.

Several Branches of the Armed Services, Several Branches of the Armed Services, NASA, U.S. Postal Service, Florida Power and NASA, U.S. Postal Service, Florida Power and Light and Cincinnati Metro are using this type Light and Cincinnati Metro are using this type of fuel for fleet vehicles.of fuel for fleet vehicles.

ReferencesReferences http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_

mike.htmlmike.html http://biofuel.org.uk/http://biofuel.org.uk/ http://www.journeytoforever.org/http://www.journeytoforever.org/

biofuel.htmlbiofuel.html http://alternativefuels.about.com/http://alternativefuels.about.com/

od/biodiesel/ss/makebiodieselod/biodiesel/ss/makebiodiesel

ReferencesReferences

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/biodiesel fuels/biodiesel

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/http://auto.howstuffworks.com/biodiesel2.htmbiodiesel2.htm