| Washing System |
Washing your biodiesel is very important and a crucial step to getting a quality batch of biodiesel.
Although there are many products on the market to dry wash your biodiesel, using water is the best way to
clean your 'raw' biodiesel. This step in the biodiesel production is to remove any residual catalyst and
methanol, food particles, soaps, and free glycerin out of the final product and to stop a very slow continued
reaction that sometimes occurs. All home brewers of biodiesel regardless of reaction will have these little
extras in their biodiesel. Water washing dissolves these extras and removes them from the biodiesel.
Washing is also a good indicator as to the quality of your biodiesel. Below are some of the considerations for
a water wash system and issues to be aware of when washing biodiesel. Dry washing will also we discussed.
Any type of mist water wash system or bubbler included with the processor is sufficient. Both will yield
similar results. An important note here is that methanol is an expensive and necessary component to making
biodiesel and any effort to recover it should be made before the wash process. Some may say that this is a
necessary part of the process of making biodiesel as it is toxic and harmful. Any effort to make biodiesel a
clean and environmentally friendly fuel will ensure a good name to this industry and all the home brewers out
there.
Advantages of Misting Water Wash System
This method agitates the biodiesel less. When biodiesel is agitated soaps and emulsions can form creating
layers. Water can be used twice to make the water go further.
Disadvantages of Misting Water Wash System
Uses lots of water. With less agitation there is less indication of the quality of your biodiesel, but if the water
falls through the biodiesel readily without forming a third layer or homogeneous mixture then you should be
confident that you have good fuel.
Advantages of a Bubbler
This is usually placed at the bottom of the reactor tank in order to move the water molecules around in order
to collect more contaminants. This process makes the batch of biodiesel looks like it is boiling and moves the
water around and through the biodiesel more thoroughly. It is also used in conjunction with the misting water
wash system and helps conserve water. A bubbler uses less water than a misting system alone and is more
likely to tell you the quality of your finished product.
Disadvantages of a Bubbler
Can cause emulsion problems if you have made poor quality biodiesel. This emulsion will probably happen
even you have made good biodiesel and could make draining the water off tricky. The emulsion can be
easily removed with a fish net or small suction pump.
Soft Water
When using water for washing it is also important to use slightly acidic or softened water. Adding a measured
amount of vinegar with your wash water will increase the acidity of the water. You can also build a water
catchment system to use for washing your biodiesel because rain water will be slightly acidic. This method will
be more cost effective and less wasteful. Also heating the water to 120 degrees F will help wash the
biodiesel.
Dry Wash
Obviously uses no water therefore conserving this valuable resource. There have been reports of residue
that ends up in your biodiesel that is from the dry wash substance. Careful monitoring of this and proper
filtration after going through the dry wash will ensure that there is no residue that could potentially cause
problems with engine and fuel system.
Magnesol is a well known dry wash product made from magnesium silicate. This product does eliminate using
water, but extensive filtering must be done to rid the residue from the biodiesel.
Although there are many products on the market to dry wash your biodiesel, using water is the best way to
clean your 'raw' biodiesel. This step in the biodiesel production is to remove any residual catalyst and
methanol, food particles, soaps, and free glycerin out of the final product and to stop a very slow continued
reaction that sometimes occurs. All home brewers of biodiesel regardless of reaction will have these little
extras in their biodiesel. Water washing dissolves these extras and removes them from the biodiesel.
Washing is also a good indicator as to the quality of your biodiesel. Below are some of the considerations for
a water wash system and issues to be aware of when washing biodiesel. Dry washing will also we discussed.
Any type of mist water wash system or bubbler included with the processor is sufficient. Both will yield
similar results. An important note here is that methanol is an expensive and necessary component to making
biodiesel and any effort to recover it should be made before the wash process. Some may say that this is a
necessary part of the process of making biodiesel as it is toxic and harmful. Any effort to make biodiesel a
clean and environmentally friendly fuel will ensure a good name to this industry and all the home brewers out
there.
Advantages of Misting Water Wash System
This method agitates the biodiesel less. When biodiesel is agitated soaps and emulsions can form creating
layers. Water can be used twice to make the water go further.
Disadvantages of Misting Water Wash System
Uses lots of water. With less agitation there is less indication of the quality of your biodiesel, but if the water
falls through the biodiesel readily without forming a third layer or homogeneous mixture then you should be
confident that you have good fuel.
Advantages of a Bubbler
This is usually placed at the bottom of the reactor tank in order to move the water molecules around in order
to collect more contaminants. This process makes the batch of biodiesel looks like it is boiling and moves the
water around and through the biodiesel more thoroughly. It is also used in conjunction with the misting water
wash system and helps conserve water. A bubbler uses less water than a misting system alone and is more
likely to tell you the quality of your finished product.
Disadvantages of a Bubbler
Can cause emulsion problems if you have made poor quality biodiesel. This emulsion will probably happen
even you have made good biodiesel and could make draining the water off tricky. The emulsion can be
easily removed with a fish net or small suction pump.
Soft Water
When using water for washing it is also important to use slightly acidic or softened water. Adding a measured
amount of vinegar with your wash water will increase the acidity of the water. You can also build a water
catchment system to use for washing your biodiesel because rain water will be slightly acidic. This method will
be more cost effective and less wasteful. Also heating the water to 120 degrees F will help wash the
biodiesel.
Dry Wash
Obviously uses no water therefore conserving this valuable resource. There have been reports of residue
that ends up in your biodiesel that is from the dry wash substance. Careful monitoring of this and proper
filtration after going through the dry wash will ensure that there is no residue that could potentially cause
problems with engine and fuel system.
Magnesol is a well known dry wash product made from magnesium silicate. This product does eliminate using
water, but extensive filtering must be done to rid the residue from the biodiesel.
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