biod:biodiesel

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biod:biodiesel [2025/12/04 15:38] – [Making biodiesel] Dave Darbybiod:biodiesel [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Biodiesel+This topic is part of [[gt:power|Power & heating]] and [[gt:transport|Transport & freight]]. 
 +====== Biodiesel ======
  
  
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-## What is biodiesel?+===== What is biodiesel? =====
  
 NB: of course, this topic is slipping out of fashion as diesel vehicles are phased out. But in case of any level of societal collapse, this topic may still be useful to be able to run any existing diesel engines. NB: of course, this topic is slipping out of fashion as diesel vehicles are phased out. But in case of any level of societal collapse, this topic may still be useful to be able to run any existing diesel engines.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Sample of finished home-brew biodiesel. +_Sample of finished home-brew biodiesel._
 </caption> </caption>
  
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 <caption> <caption>
-Biodiesel processor.+_Biodiesel processor._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 Plant oil is too viscous to be used directly in a diesel engine, so one of two things needs to happen: Plant oil is too viscous to be used directly in a diesel engine, so one of two things needs to happen:
  
-1. the vehicle is modified to run on [straight veg oil](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/veg-oil-motoring/), or+1. the vehicle is modified to run on [straight veg oil](/vego/veg_oil_motoring), or
  
 3. the veg oil is modified to be used in a normal diesel engine 3. the veg oil is modified to be used in a normal diesel engine
  
-No. 2 is biodiesel production. The oil is modified by making the gylcerine drop out with a chemical reaction and heat, so that it's no longer too viscous, and can be used in any vehicle with a diesel engine, either neat, or mixed with mineral diesel. It can also be used in generators, [boats](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/narrowboats/), or as a heating fuel.+No. 2 is biodiesel production. The oil is modified by making the gylcerine drop out with a chemical reaction and heat, so that it's no longer too viscous, and can be used in any vehicle with a diesel engine, either neat, or mixed with mineral diesel. It can also be used in generators, [boats](/nrbo/narrowboats), or as a heating fuel.
  
 <WRAP center centeralign> <WRAP center centeralign>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Titrating the oil to calculate the amount of catalyst to use.+_Titrating the oil to calculate the amount of catalyst to use._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of biodiesel?+===== What are the benefits of biodiesel? =====
  
 - Climate change: the most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is emitted by the burning of fossil fuels. Burning biodiesel also emits CO2, but this is offset by the fact that it comes from plants, and plants use CO2 from the atmosphere to grow - Climate change: the most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is emitted by the burning of fossil fuels. Burning biodiesel also emits CO2, but this is offset by the fact that it comes from plants, and plants use CO2 from the atmosphere to grow
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 <caption> <caption>
-Quite.+_Quite._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-First, learn as much as you can. Here's a free pdf of our book, _[How to Make Biodiesel: from waste cooking oil](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/0-9549171-0-3txt.pdf)_, which covers the benefits, chemical reactions, equipment and production methods. This was published in 2005, and so some parts will be out of date (around legislation for example) - but it still contains a lot of useful info. 
  
-### Using biodiesel+==== Using biodiesel ====
  
 You can buy biodiesel (you'll have to do a bit of online research to find suppliers of biodiesel from waste oil), or make your own. You can use 100% biodiesel in the summer and maybe think about a 50:50 blend of biodiesel and mineral diesel in the winter - biodiesel is more viscous at lower temperatures, so the fuel pump has to work harder with a cold start. You can buy biodiesel (you'll have to do a bit of online research to find suppliers of biodiesel from waste oil), or make your own. You can use 100% biodiesel in the summer and maybe think about a 50:50 blend of biodiesel and mineral diesel in the winter - biodiesel is more viscous at lower temperatures, so the fuel pump has to work harder with a cold start.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Mixing a small batch of oil, alcohol and lye.+_Mixing a small batch of oil, alcohol and lye._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
- +==== Making biodiesel ====
-### Making biodiesel+
  
 **Processors** **Processors**
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 <caption> <caption>
-Glycerine and biodiesel separated after a small-batch reaction.+_Glycerine and biodiesel separated after a small-batch reaction._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Some producers will deliver biodiesel in 1000-litre bulk containers (IBCs).+_Some producers will deliver biodiesel in 1000-litre bulk containers (IBCs)._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 7. Mix and heat the oil with alcohol (usually methanol) and a catalyst ('lye' - sodium or potassium hydroxide) in a processor 7. Mix and heat the oil with alcohol (usually methanol) and a catalyst ('lye' - sodium or potassium hydroxide) in a processor
  
-9. When the mixture settles, draw off the glycerine from the bottom (which can be used to make [soap](/topics_natural_soaps.htm) and other useful products - after recovering excess methanol from it)+9. When the mixture settles, draw off the glycerine from the bottom (which can be used to make [soap](ntso:natural_soaps) and other useful products - after recovering excess methanol from it)
  
 11. 'Wash' your biodiesel with water to remove impurities 11. 'Wash' your biodiesel with water to remove impurities
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 <caption> <caption>
-You can build your own processor if you have the necessary [plumbing](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/plumbing/) skills.+_You can build your own processor if you have the necessary [plumbing](/plum/plumbing) skills._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 If you buy biodiesel, duty is already paid, but if you make it, contact HM Revenue & Customs to ask about current rates of duty payable (which is constantly changing), and the Environment Agency about what permissions you need (although you probably won't need any permits for domestic-scale production). There are companies that can test the quality of your biodiesel. If you buy biodiesel, duty is already paid, but if you make it, contact HM Revenue & Customs to ask about current rates of duty payable (which is constantly changing), and the Environment Agency about what permissions you need (although you probably won't need any permits for domestic-scale production). There are companies that can test the quality of your biodiesel.
  
 +===== Forum =====
 +
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:power|Power & heating]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/power).
 +
 +It is also in the section [[gt:transport|Transport & freight]] (Forum: [Transport & freight](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/transport)).
 +
 +===== Further resources =====
 +
 +- Free pdf of book, _[How to Make Biodiesel: from waste cooking oil](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/0-9549171-0-3txt.pdf)_, which covers the benefits, chemical reactions, equipment and production methods. This was published in 2005, and so some parts will be out of date (around legislation for example) - but it still contains a lot of useful info.
 +- [Vegetable oil & biodiesel wiki](https://biopowered.co.uk/wiki/Vegetable_oil_and_Biodiesel_wiki)
 +- [Alternative Fuels Data Center](https://afdc.energy.gov/)
 +- [Clean Fuels Alliance America](https://cleanfuels.org/)
 +- [Biofuel Watch](https://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/) - campaigning for regulation to ensure that only sustainably-sourced biofuels can be sold in the EU
 +
 +
 +===== Related topics =====
 +
 +- [Recycling, reusing & repairing](recl:recycling)
 +- [Low-impact transport](litr:transport)
 +- [Narrowboats](nrbo:narrowboats)
 +- [Veg oil motoring](vego:veg_oil_motoring)
 +- [Gasification](gasf:gasification)
  
-## Further resources 
  
-## Specialists+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • biod/biodiesel.1764862736.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/04 15:38
  • by Dave Darby