Beginner's guide to making biodiesel

With the rising prices of oil and gas in the world market, people are looking at alternative sources of fuel. In fact, government right now is already providing subsidies for companies that do research on other sources of energy. One of the potential big energy providers in the market is Biodiesel.

Birth of an alternative fuel

Biodiesel, from the name itself, comes from biological substances such as vegetables. It is being groomed to replace diesel in the market. Although it is only being talked about now, the concept of a biodiesel has already been in existence since 1895. This was proposed by Dr. Rudolf Diesel, who made the first diesel engine and ran it with oils that came from peanuts. Extensive research on the subject was however started in 1979 at the University of Idaho under the supervision of Dr. Charles Peterson, who has become a leader in the field of biodiesel research.

In fact, biodiesel is already being used in various machines such as those that are used in the farm and in other locales. It is also being used right now in car machines such as with Dodge Pickups, Ford Pick-ups and even Kenworth Trucks.

Ingredients of biodiesel

What is probably great about biodiesel is the fact that “a living thing” can be used to make it. In chemistry lingo, it is made up of an alcohol ester that is frequently made from vegetable oils and even animal fats. Examples of these kinds of oils are the Rapeseed oil, Soybean oil, both the natural and the hydrogenated ones; mustard seed oil and even tallow.

Canola oil, which is used to cook foods, is also another source of biodiesel. The very close connection with some of the oils that are used on foods is the reason why biodiesel is frequently confused with the cooking oils.

In making a biodiesel, you need to have vegetable oil, an alcohol compound like an ethanol or methanol and lastly a hydroxide catalyst such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.

It is actually pretty easy to make a biodiesel. Besides having ingredients that can be easily found in the environment, the process of making one is relatively simple.

The ingredients are mixed and stirred together in a stainless steel reactor until a reaction happens. When an ester is produced, it is then pumped off from the reactor to be used as a biodiesel. This is not so difficult because the glycerol compound will then settle at the bottom of the reactor leaving the ester at the top. Don’t throw the glycerol however as it can still be sold.

Advantages of Biofuel

Because it is made from natural sources, it complies with the Clean Air Act, which means that it is good for the air that we breathe. It has no emission that can pollute the air and cause health problems. Companies who are already selling diesel will not have a hard time converting to biodiesel as they can store the fuel in the same storage place that they use for diesel.

Biodiesel is also quite flexible. For those who are reluctant to use it, they may use a portion of it. Biodiesel can be mixed with petroleum diesel. The most common mixture is the B20, which is a combination of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel.           

For a really in-depth guide you may like to read my book on making biodiesel