Fact Vs Myth

What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is known by the chemical name “Fatty-Acid Methyl Ester”. This fancy name just means that it’s a simple molecule made from vegetable oil. It is a fuel with high energy content and proper viscosity to operate reliably in all diesel vehicles and equipment. Because it’s made from a naturally-growing crop it is basically solar energy in liquid form!

The chemical reaction to make biodiesel is fairly straight forward. Vegetable oil is a ‘triglyceride’ which means three hydrocarbon chains all attached to the same glycerin molecule. It takes a certain amount of catalyst (in our case, lye) to break off these hydrocarbon chains. In the case of used cooking oils, we must add yet more lye to the reaction to neutralize the “free fatty acids” that have been formed in waste oil. This catalyst is dissolved into methyl alcohol (methanol) with a volume representing 20% of the oil we want to convert. This ‘premix’ is then blended vigorously with the oil to allow complete conversion of the oil. The blending allows the catalyst to break off each hydrocarbon chain, one by one, and bond with a floating methanol molecule to form biodiesel. The stripped glycerin molecules fall to the bottom of the reaction tank where they are removed. Glycerin will represent about 10% of the total mix volume.

Questions and Answers:

Is Biodiesel just vegetable oil thinned-out with methanol?

No, biodiesel is made by breaking down vegetable oil with a catalyst and synthesizing a new molecule (methyl ester) which is biodiesel.

Does using biodiesel require some engine conversion?

There is no conversion required to use biodiesel just like petroleum diesel. On pre-1990 vehicles you should replace any rubber fuel system components with synthetics. We also recommend that you replace your fuel filter after your first tank or two of biodiesel, since biodiesel is a very good solvent and will scrub out all the tars, varnishes and gums left by fossil diesel in your fuel system.

Will biodiesel ruin my engine or void my warranty?

Properly made biodiesel will actually run cleaner and smoother than petroleum diesel.

Does oil being used to make biodiesel need to be heated for the reaction to happen?

So long as the oil is in a liquid state at room temperature (70F) you can make biodiesel. Heating the oil to no higher than 120F will speed the reaction.

Does all home-made biodiesel need to be “washed” before it can be used anywhere?

Biodiesel which has had all the glycerin and alcohol removed can be used with confidence, especially in simpler devices like generators, tractors and home heating furnaces. Washing biodiesel removes the trace soaps (which petroleum also contains) and is recommended if you want to be extra cautious about your biodiesel quality.

Does vegetable oil have to be very clean and filtered before being used to make biodiesel?

Putting the oil through a simple window screen is all that is necessary. The small food particles will drop out with the glycerin. Try not to use oil that is pasty or sludgy.

Once I start using biodiesel, can I switch back to petroleum diesel?

You can use biodiesel just like petroleum diesel and mixed in any ratio.

What can I use biodiesel for?

Diesel vehicles, home heating system currently using oil, as an industrial solvent, a natural pesticide, petro-diesel lubricity additive, oil spill remediation, or as furniture polish.

What are the benefits of biodiesel?

It is non-toxic to humans and animals, it is as biodegradable as salt, superior lubricity over diesel, much lower emissions than diesel, it is renewable and non-depletive, carbon-cycle neutral, uses decentralized feedstocks, there are no equipment modifications necessary, blends with diesel in any ratio, similar performance as petroleum diesel, scrubs the fuel system clean, safer to store than diesel, reduces landfill loading and easily produced at the local level.

What do you do with the glycerol?

Waste oil heaters/burners, mix with wood chips and burn hot, soil dust suppression, sloped-soil stabilization, concrete mold release, and you can remove the methanol and then compost it.

How can I verify that the biodiesel I make is safe enough to use in my diesel engine?

First, the biodiesel/glycerin should have a very clean and distinct separation without a third layer. Second, doing a simple “miscibility” test of your biodiesel with an equal amount of water in a jar to see how fast the biodiesel separates from the water will give a very sensitive indication of how pure it is.

How safe is biodiesel to handle? What about spills?

Biodiesel is non-toxic, fully biodegradable, and safer to store than petro-diesel.

How long can I store biodiesel?

Biodiesel can be stored for years provided that it is kept free of condensation and bacteriological growths (just add a common diesel biocide) or by only washing your biodiesel down to a pH of 8.0.

SOURCES OF OIL

How can I tell whether the oil I plan to use is suitable for making biodiesel?

The two most important factors are water content and Free-Fatty Acids (FFA) from animal fats or over-use of oil. Water content can be checked by simply boiling a sample of oil in a frying pan and looking for bubbles from the evaporating water (bad oil: either don’t use or dry thoroughly). FFA content can be checked first by simply asking what’s been cooked in the oil, then doing a simple titration test to see how heavily used it is.

Why does each batch require a different amount of chemicals (titration)?

Different oils will have a different amount of Free Fatty Acids (FFAs) in them (based on how extensively they’re used). These acids must be neutralized, and additional catalyst must be added to make the biodiesel reaction happen. It’s an easy test, but a very important one to get the best results.

How much will I have to pay for used cooking oil?

In most cases a restaurant will be happy to simply give you their used oil, since they would otherwise have to pay to dispose of it.

What happens when all the free used oil is gobbled up by others?

First of all there are over 3 BILLION gallons of used cooking oil produced EVERY YEAR in the US alone. But beyond that, there are many other non-food grade oils coming on the market that are cheap and suitable for biodiesel.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE BY-PRODUCTS

Is there a simple way to purify the raw glycerin to the point where it becomes marketable?

No really, You have to raise the temperature VERY high, and perform special processes to get market-grade glycerin.

How do I get rid of all the glycerin I’ll be accumulating from making biodiesel?

You have several choices: 1)evaporate the methanol and compost the rest; 2)recover the methanol and compost the rest; 3)recover the methanol and purify the glycerin, then compost the rest; 4)use it as a shop cleaner and degreaser; 5)spray it on blackberries and other weeds to kill them; 6)spray in on gravel areas to keep the dust down; 7)check with your local hazardous waste disposal, the local one takes up to 35 gallons a day for free.

Is there a simple way to recover some of the methanol used in the process?

You can use a pressure-cooker with a condenser to collect boiled methanol. Recovery is about 20% of what you used in your last batch of biodiesel.

PROCESSING

What can go wrong in making biodiesel?

The tow most common mistakes are: a)using the wrong amount of lye, and b)excessive agitating of the water during the biodiesel wash cycle. Both of these mistakes can be easily avoided with simple procedures and modest attention to details.

Will I have to measure or touch any chemicals or be exposed to nasty fumes?

The FuelMeister is a closed system, meaning that you NEVER have to touch any chemicals or pour any liquids. Even the methoxide fumes are filtered out when pre-mixing your catalyst. WE ALWAYS STRESS THE USE OF PROPER PROCEDURES AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT BY RESPONSIBLE OPERATORS WHENEVER MAKING BIODIESEL.

Do I always have to wash my biodiesel, and how much?

It depends. Some biodiesel producers have been using unwashed biodiesel for years without apparent problems. Others believe that only ASTM quality biodiesel should be used in your applications. It has recently been reported that highly-washed biodiesel can attract microbial growths (algae) which can foul fuel systems. A pH which is slightly higher (basic) than pure water will suppress most microbial growth. Therefore, we recommend you wash your biodiesel until the wash water is no longer solid milk-white but only murky white. The pH should be approximately 8.0 which indicates quite clean biodiesel while remaining a poor medium for algae growth.

EQUIPMENT

Wouldn’t it be cheaper for me to just make my own processor?

Yes, some people build their own but find it takes a LOT more time and effort than they expected. Ask yourself this question: would you prefer spending your time building a processor, or making biodiesel?

How long will it take to recoup my investment in a FuelMeister processor?

Petroleum diesel sells for about $3.00 per gallon today. Your cost of making your own biodiesel is about 70 cents (assuming free used oil). At $2.30 per gallon savings, it won’t be long before your processor pays for itself. Gather a few friends and family members and your investment is repaid even quicker!

SUPPLIES

What exactly do I need to provide besides what is included with the FuelMeister?

A barrel with at least 40 gallons of used vegetable oil, a barrel of 95%+ methanol, lye, a clean empty barrel to store your biodiesel, an AC outlet, a water hose attached to a faucet and a water hose led to a water drain.

What are the regulations regarding storing methanol and biodiesel?

If you treat your barrels of methanol and biodiesel as you would treat barrels of gasoling you’ll be safe. Check with your local fire marshal about your local safety regulations for storing gasoline.

SUPPORT

One of the big benefits of purchasing rather than building a processor is customer support. There is someone to email or call almost all the time to get answers or help you with a problem. If you call us with a question and we don’t have the answer, you can call the factory and the Tech Support Dept will try to help them as much as possible.

Because biodiesel has the same cetane (like octane) rating as petroleum diesel, if not better, you should experience similar fuel economy. You can confidently mix biodiesel in any ratio with diesel #1 or diesel #2. This is handy when you are far away from your source of biodiesel. Just top off with biodiesel when you get back. Evan as little as 5% biodiesel will deliver significant lubricating benefits. Using B20 will provide all the lubrication effects as much as 50% of the emissions reduction of pure (B100) biodiesel. A side benefit is that your exhaust will smell like a deep-fat fryer!

In colder weather (below 40F) B100 biodiesel may tend to start gelling which slows fuel flow and can lead to hard starting. When the fuel warms back up again, it will flow properly. If you think you might operate in colder weather, then you should mix biodiesel with an additive made for 100% biodiesl (such as Technol).

Besides using biodiesel for transportation you can also use biodiesel in any diesel-fueled equipment including diesel generators, pumps, tractors, forklifts, and even home fuel-oil furnaces. Biodiesel is truly a versatile natural fuel!!

MYTH	Biodiesel is just vegetable oil thinned-out with methanol
FACT	Biodiesel is made by breaking down vegetable oil with a catalyst and synthesizing a new molecule (methyl ester) which is biodiesel.
MYTH	Using biodiesel requires some engine conversion.
FACT	There is no conversion required to use biodiesel just like petroleum diesel. On pre-1990 vehicles you should replace any rubber fuel system components with synthetics.
MYTH	Biodiesel will ruin my engine or void my warranty.
FACT	Properly made biodiesel will actually run cleaner and smoother than petroleum diesel.
MYTH	Oil used for making biodiesel must always be heated for the reaction to happen.
FACT	So long as the oil is in a liquid state at room temperature (70F) you can make biodiesel. Heating the oil to no higher than 120F will speed the reaction.
MYTH	All home-made biodiesel must be 'washed' before it can be used anywhere.
FACT	Biodiesel which has had all the glycerin and alcohol removed can be used with confidence, especially in simpler diesel devices like generators, tractors and home heating furnaces. Washing biodiesel removes the trace soaps (which petroleum diesel also contains) and is recommended if you want to be extra cautious about your biodiesel quality.
MYTH	Once I start using biodiesel I cannot switch back to petroleum diesel.
FACT	You can use biodiesel just like petroleum diesel and mixed in any ratio.

News!

 

Welcome to Cascade Biodiesel

Cascade Biodiesel & Cascade Performance Diesel are locally owned by Neil & Darlene Bishop. When you call, please feel free to ask for one of us and we would be happy to talk or return your call. Our business philosophy is simple: "Integrity in Customer care" this is our goal with everyone we meet. We stock everything you need to collect, store, pump, and process your oil and biodiesel.
Think of us as your one stop biodiesel shop!