How to Make Biodiesel With Potassium Methylate
Biodiesel is an organically derived fuel that can be used in any newer diesel engine. It is made through a process called transesterification where the vegetable oil molecules is broken down in to smaller, and more combustible molecules. Typically the process uses waste vegetable oil (for economic reasons) and sodium methoxide; however, potassium methylate also can be used in place of the sodium methoxide to produce the exact same type of biodiesel.
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Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Safety goggles
- Large paper filter
- 2-liter glass beaker
- 1 liter of used vegetable oil
- 200 milliliters of concentrated potassium methylate
- Heating plate with stirrer
- Stir bar
- 2-liter separatory funnel
- 500 milliliters of distilled water
Instructions
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1
Put on the rubber gloves and safety goggles.
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2
Pour the vegetable oil through the paper filter into one of the 1-liter beakers.
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3
Add the potassium methylate to the vegetable oil then set the beaker on the heating plate.
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4
Add the stir bar and stir the mixture for 1 hour at 35 degrees Celsius.
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5
Pour the warm mixture into the separatory funnel and allow to stand for eight hours.
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6
Remove the bottom layer using the valve on the separatory funnel and then add 500 ml of distilled water.
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7
Shake the funnel to mix the biodiesel and water and then allow the mixture to stand where the two liquids can separate from each other.
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8
Remove the bottom layer leaving the clean biodiesel in the separatory funnel.
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1
Tips & Warnings
This is the laboratory scale for converting vegetable oil to biodiesel. The process can be ramped up to larger scales if you have a reactor capable of handling the volume. You can use PVC plastic containers instead of glass, but it is much more difficult to see the two layers with plastic containers.
Potassium methylate is very caustic and will cause burns upon contact with the skin. Avoid all contact with it.
