I started a batch in my Bio-Pro on Tuesday. Here are some pictures along the way...

Reaction- Glycerin layer on bottom
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q4/DUO_CORE/Stuff/1stbatch010.jpg


Washing the fuel
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q4/DUO_CORE/Stuff/Bio-Prowash1.jpg

27-3 test for good reaction. Success!
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q4/DUO_CORE/Stuff/27-3test002.jpg

Here's a picture of the finished Bio

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q4/DUO_CORE/Stuff/FinishedBio-Diesel002.jpg

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q4/DUO_CORE/Stuff/FinishedBio-Diesel003.jpg

Curious is it really as automatic and labor free as it advertizes. PLease give us your opinion on that. Thanks

Curious is it really as automatic and labor free as it advertizes. PLease give us your opinion on that. Thanks

I have a BioPro 190 as well and it really is as automatic and labor free as advertised. The only work that you have to do it put 50 gallons of oil in, catalyst, methanol, and sulfuric acid. You then push the start button and 24 hours later you come back and drain off the glycerin. After that you push the wash button and come back 24 hours later and you have crystal clear washed and dried biodiesel that is ready to use. It works GREAT! We've made over 1500 gallons in ours so far without any problems. You just have to make sure that your oil is filtered and de-watered and you should not have any problems.

Man I can not wait ! I have a 150 on order as we speak not as auto at the 190 but still better than 4.50 + a gal. Thanks for the pics.

I have a BioPro 190 as well and it really is as automatic and labor free as advertised. The only work that you have to do it put 50 gallons of oil in, catalyst, methanol, and sulfuric acid. You then push the start button and 24 hours later you come back and drain off the glycerin. After that you push the wash button and come back 24 hours later and you have crystal clear washed and dried biodiesel that is ready to use. It works GREAT! We've made over 1500 gallons in ours so far without any problems. You just have to make sure that your oil is filtered and de-watered and you should not have any problems.

Why do you have to dewater before you cook it since you have to settle out the mist washing anyway, What am I missing???

Why do you have to dewater before you cook it since you have to settle out the mist washing anyway, What am I missing???

The reason for de-watering is that water in the oil could mess up the reaction to biodiesel. I'm not sure what you mean about settling out the mist washing.

Adam,

What filter are your using to prefilter it and what process are you using to dewater it? Just heating it in another tank or is there something else I may have missed.

Both of you guys, where are you getting your oil? Was it and inside source to get it from the restaurant or did you just offer the manager or owners to take it off their hands.

One last question and I'll leave you alone today - Is the 190 safe to run in a regular attached garage in my house? Is there a bad danger with fire or smells and chemical's?

Thanks, I am seriously contemplating the 190 as well - just trying to work out the semantics before hand.

THanks,
Walt

The reason for de-watering is that water in the oil could mess up the reaction to biodiesel. I'm not sure what you mean about settling out the mist washing.

How do you dry the water out of the Bio from Mist Washing??? I guess you don't settle it out, do you burn it out ?????

Adam,

What filter are your using to prefilter it and what process are you using to dewater it? Just heating it in another tank or is there something else I may have missed.

Both of you guys, where are you getting your oil? Was it and inside source to get it from the restaurant or did you just offer the manager or owners to take it off their hands.

One last question and I'll leave you alone today - Is the 190 safe to run in a regular attached garage in my house? Is there a bad danger with fire or smells and chemical's?

Thanks, I am seriously contemplating the 190 as well - just trying to work out the semantics before hand.

THanks,
Walt
I'm using a 400 micron screen filter that goes over my 55 gallon drums. This filter does a good job of removing a lot of sediment and crumbs. Most of the time I do not have to de-water my oil. Only on occasion such as where someone may forget to close the top on my WVO barrel and it rains in it. For the times I do have to dewater, I put around 60 gallons of WVO into the BioPro and heat for approx. 24 hours and then i drain off 10 gallons and then kick on the stir for a few more hours and that seems to really clean up the oil. There is another de-watering method that I have just started and that is to heat 50 gallons of WVO in the BioPro and then add 5-10 gallons of glycerin and then mix for about an hour. I then let it settle for a few hours and drain off the glycerin. This way seems to work very well for de-watering.

The restaurants where I get my WVO all started with talking to the manager of the place. Some of the restaurants were new and I asked the owner before they opened. I just offer to pick up the WVO for free and tell them what I am doing with it. People are usually fascinated by what you do with it.

The BioPro should be safe to run in a garage. I personally run mine in a separate big building behind my house. As far as safety, most of it is common sense. Always be careful when handling the chemicals and methanol. All of the fumes during processing are kept inside the unit as it is sealed. It may smell some especially during the drying process but at that point, it is harmless. The BioPro is an amazing machine and it really keeps things clean since everything is done in one unit.

How do you dry the water out of the Bio from Mist Washing??? I guess you don't settle it out, do you burn it out ?????
The BioPro 190 has three different wash cyles. The first one is just a mist wash. The second wash is a mist wash with some light agitation done by the stir. The third wash also mists water but it kicks on the stir more aggressively a few times. All of the water is drained out automatically after each wash. Before the water is drained, heat is added and it settles for a long time. The final drying process lasts around 6 hours and basically it involves drying the wet biodiesel by keeping the heaters on and the stir.

We left for Indiana today with our 5th wheel in tow. Diesel prices are 4.40-4.55 in Bedford, PA where we're staying tonight.

We topped off with bio-diesel this morning (13 gallons). I could tell a difference within a few miles of driving. The truck is noticably smoother running and quieter. I'm at 1/2 tank now and will put 5 of the 10 gallons I brought with me in tomorrow and top of with petro diesel.

Adamrc, since topping off with bio, I've noticed I can hear the turbo whistle more than I ever could. I was wondering if you or anyone else has experienced the same thing. I can hear it spool and I can hear my integrated turbo brake engage when I let off. I'm also running Trippens tow tune for the first time so maybe that is it.

My batch took 78 hours. I fliter to 400 microns, put oil in machine (60 gallons, turn heat on for 24 hrs., drain 10 gallons, turn heat and mixer on for 6 hours with lid off, shut off machine, add chemicals, press start, 24 hours later drain glycerin, press reset and wash buttons, 24 hours later nice clear fuel. The fueling pump that comes with it is great and works just like the one at the gas station. Think that's about it.

Ed

We left for Indiana today with our 5th wheel in tow. Diesel prices are 4.40-4.55 in Bedford, PA where we're staying tonight.

We topped off with bio-diesel this morning (13 gallons). I could tell a difference within a few miles of driving. The truck is noticably smoother running and quieter. I'm at 1/2 tank now and will put 5 of the 10 gallons I brought with me in tomorrow and top of with petro diesel.

Adamrc, since topping off with bio, I've noticed I can hear the turbo whistle more than I ever could. I was wondering if you or anyone else has experienced the same thing. I can hear it spool and I can hear my integrated turbo brake engage when I let off. I'm also running Trippens tow tune for the first time so maybe that is it.

My batch took 78 hours. I fliter to 400 microns, put oil in machine (60 gallons, turn heat on for 24 hrs., drain 10 gallons, turn heat and mixer on for 6 hours with lid off, shut off machine, add chemicals, press start, 24 hours later drain glycerin, press reset and wash buttons, 24 hours later nice clear fuel. The fueling pump that comes with it is great and works just like the one at the gas station. Think that's about it.

Ed

Do you only filter this to 400 mic total or is thier another final filtering process after your done taking out the glycerin??? If that is it have you ever sent a batch to a lab for particle counts? If your Bio is not as clean as Dino you could have potential fuel system contamination long term. After all that can happen on Dino with dirty fuel.

Great discussion, I have a question on yield...if you put in 60 Gallons of WVO, what is the yield of useable bio diesel? Just trying to figure out how much yield do you normally get out of 1 gallon of WVO?

Do you only filter this to 400 mic total or is thier another final filtering process after your done taking out the glycerin??? If that is it have you ever sent a batch to a lab for particle counts? If your Bio is not as clean as Dino you could have potential fuel system contamination long term. After all that can happen on Dino with dirty fuel.

Just like at the diesel pumps, I have a filter before the fueling hose. I use a Cimtek 2 micron fuel filter. Probabley overkill but....

The BP 190 is for 50 gallon batches. Your adding 50 gallons of oil, 10 gallons methanol, 1 pack (felt like 2 lbs) of lye...either potasium or sodium hydroxide, and a little bottle of sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is not necessary if you've got really nice oil. It doesn't hurt either so I use it. I get my lye and sulfuric acid from Utah Bio-Diesel prepackaged for the machine. My methanol in 55 gallon drums from the dragstrip at 220.00 per barrel. I found it for less now tho' (3.21 a gallon) so my cost per gallon went from $1.05 down to $.89.

Nice pic.'s of your machine, 89 cents is nice it cost me more to do my mix without the machine.
Only bad thing is that it takes you 48 hour plus to make you batch, plus the large amount of $ for the machine.

Adamrc, since topping off with bio, I've noticed I can hear the turbo whistle more than I ever could. I was wondering if you or anyone else has experienced the same thing. I can hear it spool and I can hear my integrated turbo brake engage when I let off. I'm also running Trippens tow tune for the first time so maybe that is it.

It could be the biodiesel making the engine quieter and now you are hearing more turbo whistle. It also could be due to running a tow tune. The boost might come on sooner with that tune making more turbo whistle.

Do you only filter this to 400 mic total or is thier another final filtering process after your done taking out the glycerin??? If that is it have you ever sent a batch to a lab for particle counts? If your Bio is not as clean as Dino you could have potential fuel system contamination long term. After all that can happen on Dino with dirty fuel.
I filter the unprocessed WVO to 400 micron and then after it is all done and made into biodiesel, I filter the biodiesel through a 10 micron fuel filter before transferring into my storage tanks. My electric fuel pump also has another 10 micron fuel filter on it so it gets filtered twice.

Great discussion, I have a question on yield...if you put in 60 Gallons of WVO, what is the yield of useable bio diesel? Just trying to figure out how much yield do you normally get out of 1 gallon of WVO?
Since the BioPro 190 makes 50 gallons at a time, you put in 50 gallons of WVO and I usually yield around 48-49.5 gallons of biodiesel.

What do you guys to with the glycerin?

I'm seriously considering the Biopro 190 for both my truck (50g/week average) and my home furnace. I'm too busy running my business to chase down WVO from restaurants so I've located a nearby source for filtered/dewatered wvo for $1.60g. Not quite as cheap as free, but better than retail fuel while letting me focus on earning cash instead of chasing oil.

What do you guys to with the glycerin?

I'm seriously considering the Biopro 190 for both my truck (50g/week average) and my home furnace. I'm too busy running my business to chase down WVO from restaurants so I've located a nearby source for filtered/dewatered wvo for $1.60g. Not quite as cheap as free, but better than retail fuel while letting me focus on earning cash instead of chasing oil.

Right now I boil off the methanol then the glycerin is good for composting. I put it in the horse manure pile. Evenually I will aquire a methenol recovery system. From what I've heard you can recover 30-35% of your methanol back. We'll see. Some processors come with this feature. I'm sure Bio-Pro will come out with it now that I bought this one lol. It also makes wonderful shop soap.

$1.60 per gallon is a great idea imho. Like you said...go make money elsewhere and pay someone else to gather. Wise move. For me my brother collects the majority of it in route to our shop...5-15 gallons per day...then we'll take an evening and go get the big loads...50-100 gallons.

Ed

Right now I boil off the methanol then the glycerin is good for composting. I put it in the horse manure pile. Evenually I will aquire a methenol recovery system. From what I've heard you can recover 30-35% of your methanol back. We'll see. Some processors come with this feature. I'm sure Bio-Pro will come out with it now that I bought this one lol. It also makes wonderful shop soap.

$1.60 per gallon is a great idea imho. Like you said...go make money elsewhere and pay someone else to gather. Wise move. For me my brother collects the majority of it in route to our shop...5-15 gallons per day...then we'll take an evening and go get the big loads...50-100 gallons.

Ed
Eddysel,

How or what are you using to boil off the methanol so you can compost your glycerin? My BioPro 190 will be here in a few weeks.

I use a crab cooker. It's a propane flame setup under a big pot or metal container of your choosing. Boil the glycerin for 45 minutes and you're good to go.

dan-o what kind of source did you find to buy the wvo. I am like you I am so busy in shop & most of the places I have talked to so far have a contract with some one & wont give or sell it to me.

I use a crab cooker. It's a propane flame setup under a big pot or metal container of your choosing. Boil the glycerin for 45 minutes and you're good to go.
That doesn't sound like something I'm willing to do...use more fuel to deal with making the fuel/disposing of the leftovers.

I read the buckets of glycerin can be left open, outdoors in the sun which will allow the meth to evaporate out. Any ideas about that or the timeframe involved?

dan-o what kind of source did you find to buy the wvo. I am like you I am so busy in shop & most of the places I have talked to so far have a contract with some one & wont give or sell it to me.

I haven't fully researched them all yet, but one company sells filtered/dewatered wvo to customers overseas. Their standard minimums are high but, being local, I hope to get smaller batches - 500 gal at a time.

That doesn't sound like something I'm willing to do...use more fuel to deal with making the fuel/disposing of the leftovers.

I read the buckets of glycerin can be left open, outdoors in the sun which will allow the meth to evaporate out. Any ideas about that or the timeframe involved?


Good point. I'm sure we could make something that burns bio to heat the methenol. I wonder if a kerosene heater will burn bio?

Sounds like an experiment is in order lol.

My brother just topped off his 6.7 liter Cummins (10 gallons). He noticed immediate improvement with how smooth his engine feels. Now I have to start making our stategic oil reserve LOL

Nice pic.'s of your machine, 89 cents is nice it cost me more to do my mix without the machine.
Only bad thing is that it takes you 48 hour plus to make you batch, plus the large amount of $ for the machine.


It takes the machine 48+ hours not me.

I figure I invested 11k. Our fuel bill NOT including heating oil is 22-24k per year. I'll be square in 6 months if I run b-100. 1 year at b-50. I think of it as an investment, not a cost. Fuel costs. Once you invest you keep making fuel. I just read where one guy went over the 10,000 gallon mark with his Bio-Pro. Can you say return on investment? Let's see 10,000 X 4.50 per gallon = ......Lots of $$$

alright guys do you have to do anything special to the truck to run it?i hear you can start or shut off the truck at 100% bio and truth to it?

Eddysel - Kerosene heater won't burn the bio. Been there, tried that.

banshee - nothing special needs to be done to your truck and you can shut it off and start it on B100 down to around 40*F

Thanks for the heads up Rockin'.

Does anyone know by leaving 2 five gallon buckets of glycerin exposed in my garage if that'd evaporate off the glycerin well enough for basic composting? Or even safe enough to dump in my 1 acre field?

I've been hangin out on this site for about a year now since I sold my 04.5 Cummins 3500. I bought a used duramax from a customer. I like it, and the allison, wish I had a cummins/allison set up though, but we knowm that's not availible, unless I buy a big rig. Anyway I want to know what the 532 dually club is?

I have been a member of the TDR for close to ten years, I like trying things out that are different.

Does anyone know by leaving 2 five gallon buckets of glycerin exposed in my garage if that'd evaporate off the glycerin well enough for basic composting? Or even safe enough to dump in my 1 acre field?

Don't leave it exposed in an enclosed area. You don't want to breathe any more methanol than you have to.