What equipment do I need to make biodiesel?

To produce biodiesel you need the following:

3 ingredients: Feedstock , all vegetable oils, new or used, and animal and fats are OK, methanol and NaOH ,
shelter and electricity.
A heating oil pre-mix tank whit a shirt.
A reactor tank where your feedstock is mixed with the methoxide. This creates a chemical proces where you create biodiesel and crude glycerin.
A settling tank where your biodiesel is seperated from your crude glycerin.
A storage tank for your feedstock.
A storage tank for your methanol.
A storage tank for your finished biodiesel .
A storage tanks for your crude glycerin.
A pump to pump feedstock into reactor, methanol into reactor and all the other streams.

What is EN12142 or ASTM Standard D6751

To make sure all biodiesel is the same, so that legislation is easy and manufacturers of cars as well as customers know what to expect there exists some standards for Biodiesel. The most well known is the European standard EN14124 and the American ASTM D671 standard. A list of the different standards and the parameters can be found here: http://high-tech-industry.com/biodiesel-standards.shtml

Is the biodiesel ok for my car, agricultural machine, generator, etc?

Please inform with the manufacturer of your car, agricultural machine, generator, etc. Most diesel cars and machines build after 1995 are able to drive on 100% biodiesel. Since biodiesel is also a very good cleaning agent it is best to start using it in diesel engines little by little. If you would drive immediately on 100% biodiesel danger exists that all dirt in the motor is cleaned away in one time blocking your motor filters. Therefore start by mixing 5% biodiesel into your diesel, next time, 10% and go up like that.

Do I need to do any modifications to my car or truck to run biodiesel?

On any vehicle newer than 1995, no modifications are necessary. Some vehicles older than 10 years old have rubber fuel lines, which will be degraded over time by biodiesel. Just replace these with current synthetic fuel lines, and you're done. We also recommend that you replace your fuel filter after your first tank of biodiesel, since biodiesel is a very good solvent and will scrub out all the tars, varnishes, and gums left by fossil diesel in your fuel system.

What are the regulations regarding storing methanol and biodiesel?

If you treat your barrels of methanol and biodiesel as you would treat barrels of gasoline, you'll be safe. Check with your local fire marshal about your local safety regulations for storing gasoline (such as for use with an emergency generator).

Can I mix my biodiesel with regular petroleum diesel?

You can mix biodiesel in ANY ratio, back and forth, with no problems.

How safe is biodiesel to handle? What about spills?

Biodiesel is non-toxic, fully biodegradable, and safer to store than petro-diesel.

How long can I store biodiesel?

Biodiesel can be stored for years provided that it is kept free of condensation and bacteriological growths (just add a common diesel biocide).

Will my biodiesel void my diesel engine's warranty?

Most major diesel vehicle manufacturers have already acknowledged that biodiesel will NOT void your warranty. Check with your dealer or diesel mechanic for further details. Companies such as Cummins, Caterpillar, and John Deere have extensively tested biodiesel and are strong supporters.

What kind of power differences are there between diesel fuel and biodiesel?

Tests have shown biodiesel to provide similar power and performance as diesel fuel.

Does biodiesel work in cold weather?

The cold weather properties of biodiesel depend largely on the type of oil used to make it. Using canola oil or soy oil and a minor blend of regular diesel fuel, it is possible to run biodiesel in very cold weather.

What should I do during cold weather?

Pure biodiesel (B100) will gel in cold weather. When the temperature is above freezing, 32 F, you can generally run B100. When the temperature drops below freezing, you should do one or more of the following: use Technol biodiesel flow improver; physically warm the fuel using tank, fuel line and/or filter heaters, or park your vehicle in a warm place at night; blend with # 1 and/or #2 petro-diesel. Generally, a blend of 50/50 biodiesel and # 1 petro-diesel will flow down to 0 F. A blend of 50/50 biodiesel and # 2 petro-diesel with the correct anti-gel will also flow down to 0 F.

Several factors can have an influence on the cloud, cold filter plugging point (CFPP) and gel point of your biodiesel, as well as the flow in your vehicle. These factors include: saturation level and type of the veggie oil the biodiesel was made from, whether anti-gel was added to the biodiesel and/or the petro-diesel mix, size of fuel lines, amount of warm fuel returned by your vehicle to the fuel tank, size and placement of fuel filter on your vehicle, whether your vehicle has a fuel pre-heater, etc.

It is better to be safe than sorry concerning gelling and use extra petro-diesel in the blend. A B20 blend will generally gel at a very similar rate as the petro-diesel it is blended with, including any anti-gel agent.

Many people "winterize" their biodiesel by placing a drum of it outside during cold temperatures and then drawing off the top of the drum. The lighter weight "winter" biodiesel will be on the top while the heavier "summer" biodiesel goes to the bottom of the drum.

We recommend, use and sell Technol Biodiesel Flow Improver. We also recommend and use Power Service brand anti-gel additives when blending petro-diesel with biodiesel. We also recommend Artic Fox brand products if you decide to heat your vehicle's fuel system. Please call or email if you have more questions concerning cold weather use and visit the ORDER FORM page to purchase Technol Biodiesel Flow Improver.

How does biodiesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel or gasoline?

The following table uses petroleum diesel as a baseline for comparison:

	Gasoline	Petro-Diesel	Biodiesel
Greenhouse Gases	+35%	0	-70%
Particulates	-70%	0	-55%
Nitrous Oxides	-55%	0	+5%
Volatile Organics	+170%	0	-55%
Carbon Monoxide	+415%	0	-45%

What is the cheapest feedstock?

Used Cooking Oil or animal fat is the cheapest feedstock source.

How much will I have to pay for used cooking oil?

In most cases a restaurant will be happy to simply give you their used oil, since they would otherwise have to pay to dispose of it.

What happens when all the free used oil is gobbled up by others?

There are over 3 BILLION gallons of used cooking oil produced EVERY YEAR in the US alone. It is best to establish a good working relationship with the restaurant(s) you are collecting from. After a good relationship has been established, you may want to draw up a simple, long-term collection contract with the restaurant owner/manager.

How can I tell whether the oil I plan to use is suitable for making biodiesel?

The two most important factors are water content and Free-Fatty Acids (FFA) from animal fats or over-use of oil. Water content can be checked by simply boiling a sample of oil in a frying pan and looking for bubbles from the evaporating water (bad oil: either don't use or dry thoroughly). FFA content can be checked first by simply asking what's been cooked in the oil, then doing a simple pH test to see how heavily used it is.

Is there a hierarchy of preference for used vegetable oil?

Yes, oil which has been used to cook: 1) only vegetables (fries, tempura, etc.); 2) fish; 3) chicken; 4) beef and pork. For the best quality biodiesel, avoid oils mixed with lard, tallow, grill scrapings, or any other waste animal fat.

Why does each batch require a different amount of chemicals (titration)?

Different oils will have a different amount of Free Fatty Acids (FFAs) in them (based on how extensively they're used). These acids must be neutralized, and additional catalyst must be added to make the biodiesel reaction happen. It's an easy test, but a very important one to get the best results.

How much methanol should I use?

A: The more methanol you use the better and easier the reaction will go. The trade off is the more methanol you use, the more is wasted. The actual reaction only uses about 10% methanol. Large biodiesel refineries flood the reaction with up to 35% methanol, then recover the excess through high pressure and heat extraction. We don't have that ability, so we look for a happy medium. We think 20% is the minimum to use and would recommend 22% for a more stable reaction. It's been pretty well tested by the homebrew community. You can use our Titration Calculator to find out how much Methanol and Catalyst to use.

Do I have to pay fuel tax if I make my own biodiesel?

This depends on your country. In Germany driving on 100%, pure biodiesel is tax free. In the USA the IRS has an exclusion from fuel excise taxes for small scale blenders who produce less than 400 %gallons per calendar quarter. Other countries you have to declare it and pay takes on the number of litters biodiesel you will use. Check your local authorities for more information.

Is it legal to store the chemicals at my house that are required to make biodiesel?

It's important to check your local zoning laws. In some cases it may be necessary to buy methanol in smaller quantities than 55 gallon drums to comply with local zoning requirements.

Is there a simple way to purify the raw glycerin to the point where it becomes marketable?

Not really. You have to raise the temperature VERY high, and perform special processes to get market-grade glycerin.

How do I get rid of all the glycerin I'll be accumulating from making biodiesel?

You have several choices: 1) evaporate the methanol and compost the rest; 2) recover the methanol and compost the rest; 3) recover the methanol and purify the glycerin, then compost the rest; 4) use it as a shop cleaner and degreaser.

Is there a simple way to recover some of the methanol used in the process?

You can use a pressure-cooker with a condenser to collect boiled methanol. Recovery is about 20% of what you used in your last batch of biodiesel.

What can go wrong in making biodiesel?

The two most common mistakes are: a) using the wrong amount of lye, and b) excessive agitating of the water during the biodiesel wash cycle. Both of these mistakes can be easily avoided with simple procedures and modest attention to details.

How can I fix a problem batch?

Diagnosing a problem batch is fairly simple, but recovering the batch may be difficult.

Where should I place my processor?

Find a sheltered, secure, and well-ventilated spot out of the flow of traffic.

Wouldn't it be cheaper for me to just make my own processor?

Some people choose to build their own processor, but find it takes a LOT more time and effort than they expected. Ask yourself this question: Would you prefer to invest your time in building a processor, or making biodiesel?

How long will it take to recoup my investment in a T&T Technology processor?

Depending upon what part of the country you live in, petroleum diesel sells for about $1.70 per gallon today. Your cost of making your own biodiesel is about 70 cents (assuming free used oil). At $1 per gallon savings, it won't be long before your processor pays for itself. Gather a few friends and family members, and your investment is repaid even quicker!

Questions about T&T Technology’s equipment.
General Questions 

What feedstocks can I use to make biodiesel with your biodiesel refineries?

used cooking oil
soybean oil
palm oil
jathropa oil
rapeseed oil
sunflower oil
corn oil
peanut oil
canola oil
cottonseed oil
animal fat
and... much more!

What is crude glycerin?

This is glycerin together with methanol, NaOH and particles from your feedstock. If you purify the glycerin you can sell it for a high price.