WVO Glycerin Pretreatment

Another fantastic use for the glycerin byproduct sludge left over after making every batch of biodiesel!

Evidently, the glycerin layer byproduct (pre de-meth'd) can be used to pretreat the Waste Vegetable Oil prior to reacting. Put glycerin into WVO barrel, mix for a few minutes gently, let sit for 3+ days.

So basically, the glycerin from one batch of biodiesel (about 5 or so gallons in my case) can be added to a 55 gallon drum of WVO right from the settling tank (even if a 5% water pre-wash was performed) into my WVO holding tank. Big deal you may say...you could add 5 gallons of whatever you wanted to your oil, it is yours to do what you want with; but what does it do is the question....

By adding the glycerin to the WV0, you realize a few advantages.
The following things happen:

• water is absorbed and sinks to the bottom of the barrel (de-watering the WVO) eleviating the necessity to preheat the oil
• this may be due to the hydroscopic nature of the methanol left in the glycerin
  
• tallow, excess animal fats, and such come together and sink to the bottom
• a "winterizing" effect takes place, reducing the cloud point (where biodiesel starts to gell) of the final biodiesel product

Overall this process leaves a clearer feedstock that will produce a better quality biodiesel. Of course, this will also produce a layer of really nasty gunk on the bottom of your WVO barrel (which I have yet found a use for).

So the cycle begins again...




(this info has been obtained from http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/419605551/m/9441081511/p/1)

Glycerin Soap?!

Today I tested out my glycerin soap. It looks like milked down coffee, smells like a mixture of biodiesel and something else fowl - but I tried it anyways.

It worked great! I had just come from the junk yard and had grease all over my hands and arms. It got it all off. I couldn't even tell I had just stuck my hands in a pool of motor oil just 20 minutes beforehand.

The best part... I don't smell like the soap. It washed off the smell with the grease.

I'll post up the recipe as soon as I have it pinned down a little better. Looks like I won't have to buy soap any more...

Testing 1...2...3... (Again)

So, the first test went quite well. I did have a problem when the temperature dropped well below 0 degrees F. Well it was more than a problem, it was actually a total disaster (kinda). The biodiesel froze. It didn't gel, but completely froze. Fortunately for me, I was at work and got a ride home. I really wasn't worried; a few days later when it warmed up, I started it right up and drove home. And yes, I have another vehicle (the Dodge Ram) which I am not running bio in for just this reason (until I get the kinks worked out).

So, like I said, I consider this a success. I am getting at least 2 miles more to the gallon, a smoother and quieter ride, and a really funny smell (when standing outside of the car). This is all with running B25.

I am currently on my second tank (again B25) and all is going well again. I have been a tad smarter and haven't attempted to drive the Benz in negative weather when possible. I also keep her plugged in (I use a coolant heater).