Essential Considerations When You Choose To Learn How To Make Bio Diesel
Bio diesel can therefore be described as a non-petroleum-based fuel produced from vegetable and animal fat. Although the fuel can be used alone, it cans also be blended with ordinary diesel to fire a diesel engine. This makes it a great option especially considering the increasing prices of fossil fuels.
The process of making bio diesel is relatively easy. This means you can learn the trade from various sources. There is also a huge variety of materials which can be used in making bio diesel including oils and feedstock such as soybean oil and rapeseed oil. It is also possible to get diesel from waste vegetable oils such as those used in restaurants. Other viable sources include animal fats such as tallow, chicken fat and lard. Algae is also used but most of these sources are not viable for commercial production.
The first step when you want to learn the art of making bio diesel is identifying the source oil. This is because the process varies slightly with different materials. Some of the materials will also necessitate the acquisition of special equipment like a bio diesel processor. Some of the cases however do not require such equipment like in the case of making the diesel from used cooking oil with methanol and sodium hydroxide. This method however, does not produce large amounts.
The next step once you have established the sources is learning how to test the oils. This will help you maintain consistency of the final product by choosing the right ingredients. The main factors determining the quality of the final output are the acidity and water content in the oils used.
The best sources are those that provide relatively dry oil, which is low in acidic content making the process easier. This means that the learning process will involve studying different methods of testing such as the heating method or using water-testing kits. For the acidity, you will learn how to use titration kits. This involves mixing the oil with a ph neutral alcohol.
Filtration is the other major step in making bio diesel. This is very important especially when using exhausted vegetable oil as it helps remove food particles and other contaminants. Drum filters are normally used since they are very effective. In filtration, one should learn about micron rating in order to choose the right filter for your equipment. Normally, a smaller rating means smaller filter holes.
Before you can embark of full production of bio diesel a test batch is very important. You should therefore learn how to make this using items obtained from the local grocery stores. You will also need to obtain the actual production equipment. Some of the equipments needed include oil collection containers, oil transfer and filtering capability, a bio diesel processor and bio diesel washing vessel. You also require storage containers, transfer pumps and a titration kit.
Storage containers and titration kits are also important. Normally, the intended capacity of production determines the equipment to be purchased. Collection of all these should prepare you to learn how to make bio diesel.
