I have a small chart that only goes to 3.5 and my last batch of oil was a 4.0 for 10 gallons. I am using KOH and the last batch I used 336grams of lye. I had good seperation, but the glycerin turned to jelly and the bio didnt pass the 27/3 test.

Things I think went wrong are:
I added the methoxide too fast
The temp in the garage dropped to 35* during the settling process
My measurments were wrong on the lye

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks

Moved to the Bio Diesel Forum.

The biggest culprit there is the temperature drop. That is why the glycerin gelled. It is recommended that the ambient air temperature is at or above 70* F, or atleast very close to. As for the titration chart. Just subtract the difference from 3.5 and 3.0 and add that number to the 3.5 to get how much lye to add.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4281160&postcount=10

Thanks a lot for your help!!!!

So, the second 10 gal. batch went rather smooth and passed the 27/3 test. However, I do have a light skin coating laying on top of the bio-fuel in the processor tank. Should I just skim it off with a fish net and start the washing process?

I did put a few gallons in my Kubota tractor and it ran fine, but there was a fair amount of power loss and it seemed to consume more fuel. Is this normal? I did change the filter after a few minutes because it gummed up and had barely any power. I mention this because I cant afford the power loss with pulling a trail mower and thick grass.

Whoa. Back up... Titration chart? Don't you use 7 grams per liter + your titration number? Did you make your own titration solution?
Temp sure did not help.
Are you using KOH or Lye? You reference both.
What you put in the tractor.. it was good, washed and dryed fuel? Clogged filter surely caused power loss.
Wags

Whoa. Back up... Titration chart? Don't you use 7 grams per liter + your titration number? Did you make your own titration solution?
Temp sure did not help.
Are you using KOH or Lye? You reference both.
What you put in the tractor.. it was good, washed and dryed fuel? Clogged filter surely caused power loss.
Wags

So, 7 grams per liter + my titration # (4.0) for 10 gal. = 416.35 grams?

I titrated by adding 10ml of osyprople alcohol
3ml of WVO
added lye/water until pink for 30 sec.
3x for average

I am using KOH

I did not wash the bio in the last batch. Some of it has turned to jelly also.

If it turned to jelly you had too much KOH.

Read the attached document and use the attached spreadsheet.

btw, if you put unwashed bio in your fuel tank, plan on the soap plugging up everything in the fuel system.

Based on the way you titrated it, you used too much KOH because you used too much oil to titrate. This also assumed you made the titration fluid correctly.

If it turned to jelly you had too much KOH.

Read the attached document and use the attached spreadsheet.

btw, if you put unwashed bio in your fuel tank, plan on the soap plugging up everything in the fuel system.

Based on the way you titrated it, you used too much KOH because you used too much oil to titrate. This also assumed you made the titration fluid correctly.

Sorry, it was 1ml of WVO for my titration.

I talked to another biodieseler about my problem and he suggested that I heat my WVO to 130* before mixing the methoxide. I have only been heating up to 80-100* before mixing. Do you agree that could be my problem?

I do get great seperation, just end up with jelly like substance at the bottom of the biofuel after a couple days.

I don't agree with anything... You haven't given enough information to agree or disagree with.

We don't know what equipment or steps you're using, or based on typos, whether or not the information given is even correct at this point.

Let's start easwy like.
1) Are you using KOH OR NaOH (Lye)? It will make a difference.
2) Your titration solution should be made with the chemical you are using to react with (KOH, or NaOH)
3) Using NaOH, you will make jelly in your glycerine in a day or 2. Using KOH you should have a very hard time making jelly. Extremely hard in fact.
4) You ceretainly SHOULD heat your WVO to 130 before mixing in methoxide.
We can go from here. This way we are all on the same page.
Wags

Oh, and most important...
IF you run unwashed bio post your mileage the first time you dump some in your tank. Ans the date.
This way we can see how many miles/ days you run before the methanol/ KOH/ NaOH eats the hell out of the aluminum in your fuel system. It will not go well.
Wags

Or put another way.. running unwashed bio is like diesel fuel and fertilizer. Bad things are going to happen.