Stoves Archive for October 2002

Oil as an Alternative Fuel
Joshua and Kaia Tickell
=A319=2E95=2C Ecologic Books=2C 1999=2C ISBN=3A 0966461614
This book=2C packed with photographs=2C graphs and diagrams=2C provides =

concise=2C easy to understand instructions for running a diesel engine =

on vegetable oil=2E It can be bought from any good bookshop =



Websites

There are many websites dedicated to making biodiesel=2C most from =

America=2E Here are just some of them=2E =



journeytoforever=2Eorg/biofuel=2Ehtml
Provides information on everything from biodiesel and organic =

gardening to solar cookers=2E =



www=2Eeugenebiosource=2Eorg
Eugene BioSource is dedicated to the education=2C research=2C and =

development of regionally-based energy derived from contemporary =

biological sources=2E =



www=2Eveggievan=2Eorg
Website of the authors of the book=2C From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank=2C =

and includes the video that accompanies the book=2E =



www=2Eafdc=2Edoe=2Egov/altfuel/biodiesel=2Ehtml =



Glossary

Catalyst=3A A catalyst is a substance that starts a reaction between =

other substances=2E In making biodiesel=2C sodium hydroxide (lye) or =

potassium hydroxide can be used=2E The amount of catalyst used in the =

biodiesel reaction depends on the pH of the vegetable oil=2E A =

successful biodiesel reaction depends on the ability to measure the pH =

of the oil=2E =



Free fatty acids=3A Fats and oils are often called fatty acids because =

they are acidic=2E Used vegetable oil is more acidic than new oil =

because it has been heated=2E It is important to remove free fatty acids =

to stop the oil from solidifying=2E To eliminate them=2C a catalyst is =

used to neutralise the free fatty acids=2E More catalyst needs to be =

used the greater the acidity of the oil=2E =



Glycerin=3A Glycerin is a neutral=2C sweet-tasting=2C colourless=2C thick=
 =

liquid that freezes to a gummy paste and which has a high boiling =

point=2E Glycerin can be dissolved in water or alcohol=2C but not oils=2E=
 =

Glycerin has more than 1=2C500 known end uses=2C including many =

applications as an ingredient or processing aid in cosmetics=2C =

toiletries=2C personal care=2C drugs=2C and food products=2E =



Titration=3A A titration is a reaction between the catalyst and the =

vegetable oil to neutralise the free fatty acids=2E When the pH value of =

diluted vegetable oil rises significantly=2C free fatty acids will be =

neutralised (a pH of around 8 or 9)=2E =



Vegetable oil=3A Vegetable oils contain concentrated energy from the =

sun=2E There are many different vegetable oils that can be used to make =

biodiesel=2C including palm=2C coconut=2C rapeseed=2C peanut=2C sunflower=
=2C =

soybean and corn (maize)=2E The main advantage of vegetable oil is that =

it takes as little as a few months to grow from seed=2E =



This document is an output from a project funded by the UK Department =

for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission (EC) =

for the benefit of developing countries=2E The views expressed are not =

necessarily those of DFID or the EC=2E =



Acknowledgements

ITDG would like to thank Rachel Fellows at ASDA for providing =

information on the project=2E =



TVE/ITDG gratefully acknowledge support for the HANDS ON programmes =

from the UK=27s Department for International Development (DFID)=2C the =

European Commission (EC)=2C the UN Foundation and UNDP/The Equator =

Initiative in collaboration with the Government of Canada=2C IDRC=2C IUCN=
=2C =

BrasilConnects and the Nature Conservancy=2E =

 =

 =

 which report that the chain of supermarkets ASDA is using restaurants =

oil to power its fleet of vehicles=2E Please this cutting I got from =

their wensite=2E
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 =

Series 3=3A
FUEL FOR THOUGHT
FUNDING THE FUTURE



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Series 2 =


Series 1 =



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Hands On en fran=E7ais =



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Search Hands On =



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Hands On home page  =

 =

 =

Donuts for Diesel=2C UK
Introduction

Fuel energy on a large=2C useable scale is available only from fossil =

sources=2E These sources are finite and when burned cause pollution that =

damages the environment=2E The need to reduce global warming and harness =

sustainable energy has led to a search for alternative fuel sources=2E =

Hydrogen and bio-fuels such as alcohols and biodiesel are being made =

from sustainable agricultural crops=2C producing valuable by-products in =

the process=2E =



Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be manufactured in the kitchen =

using vegetable oil or waste fat from restaurants and canteens=2E Making =

biodiesel from waste fat is an alternative means of disposing of a =

waste product that would otherwise be sent to landfill sites=2C which =

are growing at an unsustainable rate=2E Biodiesel is safe=2C =

biodegradable=2C and better for the environment than petroleum diesel=2E =

One of the main sources of the air pollution that causes global =

warming is exhaust smoke from diesel engines=2E Biodiesel has lower =

carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions=2C it is non-toxic and it reduces serious =

air pollutants such as particulates=2C carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons=2E=
 =



One UK supermarket chain=2C Asda=2C is doing its bit for sustainable wast=
e =

management by taking the waste fat from its canteens=2C restaurants and =

rotisseries and turning it into a cleaner biodiesel fuel which will =

soon to be used in Asda=27s fleet of trucks=2C transporting produce aroun=
d =

the country=2E =



Sustainable Waste Management

In the UK=2C Asda produces between 50 and 90 million litres of waste =

cooking oil every year=2C while its lorries clock up around 100 million =

road miles each year=2E Individually=2C these factors can cause damage to=
 =

the environment through landfill waste and CO2 emissions=2C but together =

they provide an environmentally friendly solution=2E Trials undertaken =

showed that emissions from using biodiesel are 20=96 40 per cent lower =

than those from low sulphur diesel (LSD) and 10=9629 per cent lower than =

emissions from ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD)=2E Two Asda lorries have =

already begun testing the fuel on the road and it is hoped that many =

more will follow=2E =



Biodiesel

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine with few or no =

modifications=2E Although biodiesel does not contain petroleum=2C the two=
 =

fuels can be blended successfully=2E Blends of 20 per cent biodiesel =

with 80 per cent petroleum diesel (B20) can be used in unmodified =

diesel engines=2C or biodiesel can be used in its pure form (B100)=2C =

although engine modifications are required to avoid maintenance and =

performance problems=2C and more frequent cleaning may be necessary=2E =



Biodiesel is virtually identical to traditional petro-diesel in terms =

of performance and fuel consumption (mileage)=2C and has many =

advantages=3A =



It has a much higher flashpoint than petro-diesel=2C making it safer to =

store=2C handle and use=2E =

It is less toxic if ingested or spilt=2E =

It requires no specialised dispensing or storage equipment=2E =

It is more lubricating than diesel fuel=2C which can increase the life =

of an engine=2E =


Biodiesel is much better for the environment=2C too=2E =



Biodiesel is more biodegradable=2E Neat biodiesel degrades as fast as =

sugar and an 80/20 per cent petro/bio blend degrades twice as fast as =

pure petro- diesel=2E =

Substituting 1 tonne of biodiesel for petro-diesel prevents 3 tonnes =

of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere=2E =

Biodiesel use reduces gas emissions by up to 55 per cent=2E =


How is it Made=3F

Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called =

transesterification=2E Fats and oils are chemically reacted with an =

alcohol to produce chemical compounds known as fatty acid methyl =

esters=2E Biodiesel is the name given to these esters when they are =

intended for use as fuel=2E =



A vegetable oil molecule is made up of three esters attached to a =

molecule of glycerin=2E To make biodiesel=2C the esters in vegetable oil =

are separated from the glycerin=2E =



During the process=2C the glycerin component of vegetable oil is =

replaced with an alcohol=2E Either ethanol or methanol can be used=2E =

Ethanol can be made from sugar cane=2C cassava=2C or grains such as corn =

(maize) or sorghum=2C and methanol can be made from coal=2C natural gas o=
r =

wood=2E Although methanol produces a more stable biodiesel reaction=2C it=
 =

is more dangerous and can be fatal if swallowed=2E Ethanol is considered =

to produce a superior grade of fuel=2C though it is more expensive to =

buy=2E =



Biodiesel can be made at home or in schools=2C provided that the right =

supervision is available=2E Understanding the necessary safety =

precautions before attempting to use the chemicals involved is very =

important=2E =



Please note=3A Due to the potential hazards associated with producing =

biodiesel=2C the following information is not intended as a recipe=2C but=
 =

simply provides a basic overview of one way to produce biodiesel on a =

small scale=2E For more detailed explanations=2C including quantities=2C =

times and temperatures=2C please consult the Further Reading section=2E =



Safety precautions

The essence of transesterification safety is proper handling and =

storage of components and maintenance of equipment=2E =



If you are intending to make biodiesel you should first read more =

widely and study these safety rules=3A =



Pay attention to detail and be patient=2E =

Avoid working quickly=3B work at a leisurely place and do not under any =

circumstances handle chemicals under the influence of alcohol or =

drugs=2E =

Always wear proper safety equipment=2E =

Store all components out of reach of children and away from heat and =

open fire=2E =

Never smoke within the working area=2E =

Clean up spilled chemicals and fats promptly and completely=2E =

Use your equipment according to the manufacturer=27s recommendations=2E =

Be sure to strictly follow the instructions given by the chemical =

manufacturers=2E =


Equipment and materials

The best approach to making biodiesel is to start off small and learn =

about what is involved=2E This helps in working out the correct amounts =

of chemicals such as lye to use per litre of vegetable oil=2E The =

following equipment is recommended to make a small batch of biodiesel =

using a blender (which must not be used for food preparation)=3A =



a clean workspace such as a laboratory=2C garage or workshop=3B =

scales sensitive to at least 1 gram=3B =

litmus paper or a pH meter (pH measures the acidity of a substance)=3B =

a blender with a glass container=3B =

safety equipment such as goggles=2C gloves=2C protective clothing=2C eye =

wash and vinegar (to neutralise spilt chemicals)=3B =

lye=2C also known as sodium hydroxide or caustic soda=2C used as a =

catalyst=3B =

methanol or ethanol stored in a fuel container=3B =

used cooking oil=3B and =

other equipment such as beakers=2C paper towels=2C glass container and a =

small pump or ladle=2E =


Procedure

Determine the amount of catalyst (lye) needed for the batch of oil=2E =

Measure the quantity of methanol=2C lye and vegetable oil=2E =

Dissolve lye into methanol by mixing for up to 5 minutes=2E =

Mix this with vegetable oil in a blender for 15 minutes=2E =

Allow glycerin to settle at the bottom of the blender=2E =

Separate the glycerin from the biodiesel after 8 hours=2E =

Clean up by properly storing leftover chemicals in clearly labelled =

bottles and cleaning all equipment=2E Do not use blender for food! =





Figure 1=2E Procedure for making biodiesel=2E Based on diagram by Tickell=


 =




The Future of Biodiesel

Biodiesel offers an unrivalled range of environmental benefits =

compared with alternative transport fuels=2E It is sustainable and =

renewable=3B it is safely biodegradable=3B it is much better in terms of =

greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels=3B it offers scope for =

recycling waste oils=3B it recycles carbon=3B and it produces far fewer =

local air pollutants than petroleum diesel=2E This renewable source of =

energy also contributes to local development as biodiesel is produced =

domestically and not imported from other countries=2E Development of =

biodiesel industries could strengthen domestic=2C and particularly rural =

economies=2E =



Biodiesel is becoming ever more popular with governments looking to =

reduce harmful emissions and help the environment=2E France is the =

world=27s biggest producer of biodiesel and its use in all diesel =

engines is required by law=2E In America=2C the US Postal Service uses =

biodiesel in all its fleet of vehicles=2E The European Commission=27s (EC=
) =

Green Paper has the objective of substituting 20 per cent of fuel =

energy by alternative fuels such as biodiesel by the year 2020=2E =



Please Note=3A In the UK=2C it is illegal to use untaxed biodiesel in you=
r =

engine for road use under Customs and Excise law=2E For those who wish =

to use biodiesel=2C it is advised that you contact us for a registered =

list of suppliers and garages in the UK=2E =



For more information on Asda=27s biodiesel scheme=2C please contact=3A

Public Relations
ASDA
Asda House=2C Southbank
Great Wilson Street
Leeds LS11 5AD
United Kingdom

Tel=3A 0113 241 8857
Fax=3A 0113 241 8015 =

 =




General information on biodiesel

Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA)
31 Adelaide Street East
P=2EO=2E Box 398 =

Toronto =

Ontario M5C 2J8
Canada

Tel=3A (416) 304-1324
Fax=3A (416) 304-1335


The CRFA is a non-profit organisation mandated to promote renewable =

bio-fuels (ethanol=2C biodiesel) for automotive transportation through =

consumer awareness and government liaison activities=2E =

 =




Further Reading