When making your own biodiesel, it is important to think small. You will have to experiment with small batches (about a liter each) until you achieve the best results. This will increase your success rate and inversely, decrease your risks of failure.
There are three basic ingredients you will need to make your own biodiesel. Two of which can be purchased from chemical companies - methanol and lye. The last and most important of all is oil. This can be easily found in your local supermarket.
Unlike the two chemicals you will need, oil requires careful consideration. The biggest factor you would need to consider is the weather in your area. If it is constantly cool in your area, your choices are canola, corn, rapeseed, soy and sunflower oils. On the other hand, if you live in a place which is constantly sunny and warm, you can also have the choice of using palm oil or coconut oil. The reason for this is the fact that there are some oils which tend to set when cooled - thus, the term summer oils. For your first few attempts, make sure that you do not use used or cooked oil. Use only fresh or new oils in your concoction.
Before you continue to the actual process, it is imperative that you take the necessary safety precautions in handling your chemicals. You would also need to prepare all the materials you will use for this project such as a blender or mini-processor, an accurate scale, a few 1/2 and 1 liter PET bottles, some duct tape and a thermometer.
For you to be able to determine if your test batch is successful, you will need careful observation. As you leave your product to settle for about a day or two, you will notice a change in the appearance of the liquid. If it has split and you observe a dark colored liquid layer at the bottom of the jar or bottle, then you are successful. The top layer of liquid is the biodiesel. And to be able to check if it has met the correct acidity levels, you may use a piece of litmus paper to confirm.
Tags: biodiesel, chemicals, canola, rapeseed, oils