Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel production is defined as the act of producing biodiesel fuel through transesterification or alcoholysis. Anytime biodiesel production is needed, one will first have to create a feedstock pretreatment that is often made from pure or fresh oil. Care must be taken to keep water out at this stage of the production because of water's ability to create triglycerides. The sample should be tested to ensure the correct amount of fatty acids or water is in the mix. A catalyst is added to the alcohol and mixed with some form of mixer or agitator. This mix is then subjected to the addition of the vegetable oil and combined in a closed system to prevent any moisture from fouling the mixture. The mixture is heated and kept at a certain temperature for one to eight hours. At this point, it should be possible to separate the mixture into two parts by drawing off the bottom of the mixture or using a centrifuge if that is available. The extra amount of alcohol is removed by flash evaporation or by distilling it. The alcohol can be saved and reused for the next batch. The finished product is cleaned to help remove impurities by gently washing. Other methods exist that some companies use for biodiesel production including ultrasonic-reactor method and the microwave method. When using ultrasonics, the mixture will constantly mix and bubble. The amount of time needed is greatly reduced because the reaction time is ongoing. Many larger organizations use this method to produce thousands of barrels each day. The microwave method is still being tested but it has seen some very strong results. Because of the power of the microwave to heat the mixture very quickly, about six liters can be converted each minute and the mixture is usually 99% pure. The microwave method takes about one-fourth the amount of energy needed in the regular method of production. Depending on how fast and how much biodiesel you need can have an impact on which method you might choose to use. Companies that produce large amounts have to be extra cautious about safety when they bring large amounts of these ingredients together. However, the majority of accidents and problems have come from smaller biodiesel productions such as the one done at home or in small farms. Biodiesel fuel is an excellent way to supplement current petroleum sources because it provides the same energy without out the greenhouse gases production that is associated with regular fuels. As demand for biodiesel fuels increase, more companies and researchers are looking for new ways to meet the increasing demand and yet still provide a safe way to make the biodiesel fuel. As technology continues to change, new methods will be found for biodiesel production.	DiscountBioDiesel.com Biodiesel Fuel Production Home Production Biodiesel Processor Biodiesel Equipment Biodiesel Kits