Biodiesel we made it

[mag]

After a weeks work I have finally got my formula correct and have 100 litres of Biodesel produced, cost worked out to 23 cents a litre, and we are going to try and make a bigger plant (on a small scale) to supplement our fuel use on the farm, we estimate that we could produce about 250 litres a month and blend it with normal desiel to help cut fuel cost. We filled up the 4WD today and it went great :beer

[Dave]

Interesting stuff. What are you using for your raw material, old vegetable oil?

You might need to start hanging around fish and chip shops :D.

[mag]

You might need to start hanging around fish and chip shops :D.

we used a combination of both - at about 50/50, helps if you grow your own oil seed crop as well, but you can use animal fat and we used some of that as well as potatoes.

[Pat]

G`day,
I just started working out how to make biodiesel. The trouble is, I live in tasmania and getting cheap methanol down here is proving very difficult. can anyone help with any information :confused:

[mag]

G`day,
I just started working out how to make biodiesel. The trouble is, I live in tasmania and getting cheap methanol down here is proving very difficult. can anyone help with any information :confused:

have a look at the following site for info -
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html


You dont need methanol ..

That will give you a start...
cheers

[kjd]

This is a very interesting subject and cant wait until biodiesel becomes mainstream. its just a shame that the Government isn't looking at biofuels seriously like other nations around the world!

[tullyroad]

Hi , My first thread ever, Anyway recently at a bbq before xmas i met a man from brisbane, he makes 100,000litres of biodiesel per month, his son or son in law owns 40 trucks he cant make enough but he said his cost works out at 26c a litre . He buys methanol in 205 litre drums, he buys KOH in bags by the pallet to get the best price, he sells the by product to mines in QLD to spray on their roads to control dust. He is using 2 2500 litre milk vats that he bought second hand and stores it in 15x1000 litre bulky bins that have to be so many metres apart for council regulations.He says the truck drivers report that the engines run quieter and depending on oil quality have just a bit more grunt or a bit less than diesel. Work out the saving. It was a very interesting conversation. He told me where to get the best quality oil.
I found a site that is a usa manufacture of complete kits to make biodiesel cone shaped tanks ,pumps heaters valves can be 240volt not usa voltage, small kits to large kits. 40 us gallon per day up to i think 750,000 gallon per year not working flat out $2000+ us dollars for the small one + delivery. Would be good if someone here in aus could make similar kits to sell to farmers that dont have time to put one together themselves but have access to used cooking oil.

[mag]

Would be good if someone here in aus could make similar kits to sell to farmers that dont have time to put one together themselves but have access to used cooking oil.

Already in the pipe line...Including a crusher to crush oil seeds on farm, we are in the design phase, will update over time...:thumb

[Robert@FMB]

i have been looking into Biodiesel kits for sale.
seems like a good idea and im a little dissapointed i didnt get a diesel car now :mad:

[circlegtractors]

I agree with kjd, this is some neat stuff, but we don't need to wait on the gov. Sounds like plenty of folks are figuring this out on their own.

[cass]

I am looking at buying a car just to try this out, any comments on problems, or positives on bio diesel. Is there anyone in Victoria that makes this stuff that we can have a look at their setup. I am still a little worried that this will really work.

[mag]

I am looking at buying a car just to try this out, any comments on problems, or positives on bio diesel. Is there anyone in Victoria that makes this stuff that we can have a look at their setup. I am still a little worried that this will really work.

do a google search you will find plenty of info - also look at http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html
:thumb

[Stu]

MAG
Very keen to see what your up to, I manage a Farmer Co-op type arrangement Pty / Ltd if you know what I mean. This facility would be a perfect fit for a business like mine. Please contact me with more details.

[PeterAC]

With reference to the biodiesel sites to check out. The journey to forever site has a lot of out of date information although it is a very good site to get general info from.

For a site that has current information and has a very active forum you may look at the Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial. This is an American site but is used internationally. An Australian forum which is at the cutting edge of information is Bio Fuels Forums Powered by vBulletin. Just Google both these to find there web address.

All the best

Peter

[PeterAC]

Hello Cass

Apparently old Mercedes 300D is an unbeatable car to run on Bio or blended straight vegetable oil (ie. cut with approx 20% Ulp or Kero). Just check out the Australian forum for excellent info on vechicles people are currently using around Australia.

Cheers Peter

[tasrob]

G`day,
I just started working out how to make biodiesel. The trouble is, I live in tasmania and getting cheap methanol down here is proving very difficult. can anyone help with any information :confused:

which part of tas..? I'm in Hobart but have a friend in Launceston who wants to make bio and has his own huge tanks to process/store

[Farmboy]

I haven't bought any myself, but I have heard that one source is through the local drag racing clubs.

Cheers
Paul
Smarterfarming.com

[Chook]

I had to do a uni essay on biodiesel and the amount of info I had was amazing! It was so hard to condense everything in 1500 words that Im sure I didnt do a good job. Oh well, thems the breaks. I do remember something about regulations and getting permission to make your own biodiesel on farm. Does anyone know these regulations? There were also studies being done using waste products to source the oil and the ability to use bio-oils for making plastics. Anyone heard of these being done? It would be interesting to know a bit more!