How do you make biodiesel from a plain bottle of veggie oil?

Question

:)

Answer 1

"Biodiesel" fuel can be used in an unmodified diesel engine. Veggie oil requires some engine modification to use straight out of the bottle.

For more information on biodiesel, including how to make it from veggie oil, see:

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html


A list of ingredients and equipment from this article is provided below:

1 litre of new vegetable oil, whatever the supermarket sells as cooking oil
200 ml of methanol, 99+% pure
lye catalyst -- either potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
blender or mini-processor
scales accurate to 0.1 grams, preferably less -- 0.01 grams is best
measuring beakers for methanol and oil
half-litre translucent white HDPE (#2 plastic) container with bung and screw-on cap
2 funnels to fit the HDPE container
2-litre PET bottle (water or soft-drinks bottle) for settling
two 2-litre PET bottles for washing
duct tape
thermometer

Answer 2

Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products).
http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Production.PDF
http://www.biodiesel.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel
http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs/40555.pdf

Answer 3

I'm pretty sure a diesel engine will use it as is.

The Federal Government is...get this....placing a limit on how much biofuel companies can sell versus the amount of refined (oil based) diesel. Why, I do not know...aren't we trying to rid our dependency on imported hydrocarbons?????