Generating Biodiesel By Using Sodium Hydroxide

There is a fuel that can be found in cooking oil or vegetable oil.  You will simply have to mix oil with other substances, such as sodium hydroxide, which are pretty ordinary.  The new chemical fuel has applications as a diesel engine.  In other instances, it can be mixed with other petroleum-based fuels.  The product is a fuel that is low-priced, safe and replaceable. 

The good news is that you can actually make biodiesel from fresh or even used oil.  You should have the following items: 1000mL of vegetable oil, 3.5g of caustic soda or sodium hydroxide, and 200mL of methanol.  You also need to have the following instruments: a mixer (if possible with a low speed function), a digital weighing scale, plastic containers (one for vegetable oil, another for methanol, and a wide-mouthed mixing plastic container), safety gloves, eye shield (protective glasses or goggles), and apron.  Note that among the substances, caustic soda is extremely dangerous to process so apply necessary precautions.  Also employ cautiousness when handling methanol. 

Be sure that the maximum temperature is seventy degrees Fahrenheit or higher when making biodiesel because the rate of chemical reaction depends on the temperature.  Therefore, in a low ambient temperature, expect a slow response process. 

The process starts with pouring of the methanol into the blender that is set at the lowest speed.  Slowly add the caustic soda until it totally melts in the mixture.  This method produces a substance called sodium methoxide.  When caustic soda has completely melted, add the one-liter vegetable oil.  The slow mixing action should go on until about thirty minutes during which time the solution should be uniform.  Empty the solution into a wide-mouthed glass holder.  Notice that the mixture starts to break up into different layers of fluids.  The layer at the base is glycerine.  On top of that is biodiesel.  Set this aside for a few more hours until the deposits break up fully.  This time you can easily pour out biodiesel.  You can also utilize a pump to suction the top liquid out of the solution.

Note that glycerine is not a waste product but another useful result of the reaction.  It has important use in other factories.

Note also that any unchanged engine functioning on diesel may utilize unadulterated biodiesel or a blend of biodiesel and petroleum diesel.  It may be essential to use the mixture while driving in cold weather particularly if air temperatures drop below 55 ºF.  Remember that unadulterated biodiesel can develop into thick and viscous when subjected to low temperatures.  Thus, you should choose to raise the amounts of petroleum diesel as the temperatures reduce.

In storing the chemicals for your biodiesel processing, be sure to separate them away from food items and specifically make sure to stack them properly away from drinks.  Once more, one of the most hazardous elements is sodium hydroxide so follow the needed precautions in storage and handling.