Originally Posted by
baker2acre
Though you
are right, Dmax... you can't always count on an experienced officer being sent to investigate, or an honest neighbor understanding your intentions. It never hurts to cover your bases.
I had the reaction backwards..... I thought the alcohol replaced the glycerin and went with the esters... but it replaces the esters and goes with the glycerin to prevent reversal. I think... man I wish I had a better chem. teacher who didn't "smell" his work so much!!
Baker: the methanol is reacted with SVO or WVO, and using a catalyst (heat & either sodium or potassium hydroxide), in fact does replace the glycerin molecule at the end of the triglyceride with an alcohol molecule thereby creating a "methyl ester." The primary problem with this is that the reaction is usually incomplete meaning that not all of the triglycerides (glycerin & the 3 fatty acid chains) have been "changed." This leaves a little bit of excess methanol floating around in your biodiesel. While some of it settles out with the glycerin at the bottom of the reactor, Dmax is correct in saying that what's left in the biodiesel must be removed before running it.
Scott: not a good idea to store it outside "in plain sight." Just gives people reason to question. Better to keep it indoors, under your hat & in your tank. Also not a good idea to stockpile methanol in a drum. Having a small bomb sitting around is what makes people nervous, regardless of your intent with it. Buy what you need for the batch and use it up...
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