An alternative fuel?

My transesterification is checked on a regular basis and I'm happy to report is A1 [smiley=014.gif]

Is your transesterification up to scratch?

To be honest, it's not often I feel the need to check the pH level of myself to figure out how much sodium hydroxide i need to reduce my levels of free fatty acids. But whatever turns you on dear.

MB: Chemical suppliers sell it.

And if you're stealing my used oil, check your transesterification first!

Is that anything like testosterone?

To be honest, it's not often I feel the need to check the pH level of myself to figure out how much sodium hydroxide i need to reduce my levels of free fatty acids. ?But whatever turns you on dear.

And I thought I had problems with my cholesterol levels. :-/

To be honest, it's not often I feel the need to check the pH level of myself to figure out how much sodium hydroxide i need to reduce my levels of free fatty acids. ?But whatever turns you on dear.

[smiley=067.gif]

MB: apparently it's something to do with fatty acids [smiley=102.gif]

Why don't you tap up the German guy in the chippie down the road? ?He might be really glad to have a way of getting rid of it (his oil, that is). ?And could you please order me a portion of fush and chups for when I get there in March?

Perhaps I should order them now, it'll take that long before they are ready! Who ever heard of a chippie where you have to phone them an hour in advance for your order?!

You can ask when you get here bear, he liked you. I've still not seen him!

Perhaps I should order them now, it'll take that long before they are ready! ?Who ever heard of a chippie where you have to phone them an hour in advance for your order?! ?That's why I'm asking now. ?He did say something about preferring to cook everything fresh, even if it meant people waiting.
You can ask when you get here bear, he liked you. ?I've still not seen him! How is it you haven't seen him? ?You can't mean you haven't been in for a regular supply of his produce? ?It was excellent.

And how much money do you save by running a car on bio-diesel? ?Have you actually run the car on it or by 'it's good stuff though' do you only mean that it looks and smells good, but haven't tested it as yet?

Just make sure you get your methoxide right, or you'll end up with soap and a whole load of gloop.

Well, isn't that just dandy?! Taffy making biodiesel and Welshgirl on soap-making. We could have a decent family business on the go here and all from a quart of Mazola. Can't fault it.

Bio-fuel company seeks $5m for pilot refinery
Saturday October 7, 2006
By Errol Kiong

A home-grown biofuel is now a step closer to commercial production. Technology company BioJoule is to plant a 6ha commercial nursery for its fuel crop salix following a two-year trial of seven species of the cane willow at sites around Lake Taupo.

BioJoule head Dr Jim Watson, founder scientist of Genesis Research, said the company had selected the best variety to be propagated in the nursery in the Taupo area. Mass plantings will start in 2009, and Watson expects fuel from harvested salix to become commercially available from 2011.

The company, a spinoff from Genesis Research, is seeking $5 million in private investment for a pilot refinery. The project is believed to be the first attempt in Australasia to grow the crop for biofuel.

The company has also developed patented processes to extract xylose, a non-diabetic sweetener, and lignin, a substitute for petrochemicals in the manufacture of plastics, resins and glues - two byproducts that make the crop even more lucrative.

BioJoule's partner in the venture is the Lake Taupo Development Company, a ratepayer-funded economic development agency.

Government should foster the young industry as it did the electricity industry in the 1920s and 1930s. "There doesn't seem to be a real commitment on the part of the Government that we're serious about renewable fuels," said Dr Watson, who also chairs the Royal Society of New Zealand's Energy Panel.

The country consumes 6.3 billion litres of petrol and diesel annually, at a cost of $4.5 billion - nearly a third of its annual current account deficit.

The Government's proposed target of having renewable fuels comprise 0.25 per cent of total combined annual petrol and diesel sales in 2008, rising to 2.25 per cent by 2011, should be raised., he said.

"We're going to have to fund the beginnings of this industry from our own pockets. This is going to benefit the country hugely but we're somewhat timid in taking the first steps."

There's an art to making it, but once you've got it nailed its easy enough. Only problem is obtaining enough oil, as I'm too chicken to ask shops for their waste oil!

Just to note, if anyone is thinking of buying one of the pre-made set-ups, for making the biodiesel, you can get on trademe for something like $2000, dont bother. You can build a much better system yourself for less that $500, instead of the plastic tank and funnel they give you for your $2000.

Don't be shy to ask, Taffy. The restaurants may have to pay for pick up & disposal of their waste oil, and may be more than happy to give it away. When my OH had a diesel car, she got oil from a restaurant that changed its oil every night. Thus, the oil was fairly clean and plentiful.

She also cobbled together a set up that didn't cost much - probably tens of dollars. Her mixing vat was a 5-gallon beer keg with one end cut off. It was a good way to try out making biodiesel without a big monetary commitment.

If you keep a compost pile, pour the waste glycerine on it - the microbes love that stuff, and the compost will heat up & progress wonderfully. I suppose you could try making soap out of it, but my OH said it probably isn't refined enough to want to use on your skin.