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Biodiesel Catalysts
The process of homemade biodiesel production is similar to making soap. Vegetable oils and animal fats are triglycerides, containing glycerine. To turn vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel you must first eliminate the glycerine. When fat or oil is separated from glycerine it is considered to be 'esterfied'.
During both homemade and professional biodiesel production, alcohol (either methanol or ethanol) is added to displace the glycerine so that it becomes a waste product. The chemical reaction for this process is triggered by the addition of lye.
When you purchase methanol you might notice that it is also marketed under a lot of different names. Among them are alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha, wood spirits, methyl hydrate (or 'stove fuel'), carbinol, colonial spirits, Columbian spirits, Manhattan spirits, methylol, methyl hydroxide, hydroxymethane, monohydroxymethane and pyroxylic spirit. The bottom line is that all of these nicknames and brands describe one product - methanol.
Be careful when buying something called methylcarbinol as this name can be used to describe both methanol and ethanol. Check the ingredients to make sure that it is methanol you are buying and not eth
Biodiesel CatalystsThe process of homemade biodiesel production is similar to making soap. Vegetable oils and animal fats are triglycerides, containing glycerine. To turn vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel you must first eliminate the glycerine. When fat or oil is separated from glycerine it is considered to be 'esterfied'.
During both homemade and professional biodiesel production, alcohol (either methanol or ethanol) is added to displace the glycerine so that it becomes a waste product. The chemical reaction for this process is triggered by the addition of lye.
When you purchase methanol you might notice that it is also marketed under a lot of different names. Among them are alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha, wood spirits, methyl hydrate (or 'stove fuel'), carbinol, colonial spirits, Columbian spirits, Manhattan spirits, methylol, methyl hydroxide, hydroxymethane, monohydroxymethane and pyroxylic spirit. The bottom line is that all of these nicknames and brands describe one product - methanol.
Be careful when buying something called methylcarbinol as this name can be used to describe both methanol and ethanol. Check the ingredients to make sure that it is methanol you are buying and not eth