Single Stage Base Recipe for Biodiesel

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Single Stage Base Recipes

Single Stage Base Processing is the method most often used recipe for biodiesel. There is no one single recipe for biodiesel that will fit everyone's needs. That's because, we make compromises when building our recipe. Quality and Cost are the two major influences the compromise. There are other minor influences like ease of production, safety, time required, feedstock oil type, and processor design.

Most people use and have good results with The Standard Recipe for Biodiesel. Some engines demand the highest quality biodiesel you can make. If you want to make the highest quality biodiesel possible then follow the ASTM Recipe for Biodiesel below.

Most of the older IDI diesel engines can run a much lower quality biodiesel. If you want to make the cheapest fuel that will burn in an IDI diesel engine without modification then follow the High Yield Recipe for Biodiesel.

Whatever your goals, there is a recipe for you.

The Standard Recipe for Biodiesel

When using this recipe on higher titration oils KOH is recommended over NaOH as a catalyst.

Recipe Calculator

Methanol = 22% by volume of the WVO used

NaOH = (5grams + Titration ) X liters of oil
OR
KOH = (8grams + Titration ) X liters of oil

Temperature 130°F - 150°F
While oil is heating mix methanol and caustic
Once the oil is up to temperature add the methanol.
In an Appleseed, it should take one minute for each gallon of WVO to add the methanol. If you have a 35 gallon batch, it should take 35 minutes to introduce the methanol.
On your first few batches you should perform the methanol test every 20 minutes until it passes. Once it passes record the total mixing time and stop. If it takes longer than three hours to pass, then consider increasing the caustic for the next batch.

High Yield Recipe for Biodiesel

Know that this recipe does not make ASTM fuel. It makes a blend of WVO and Biodiesel that sufficiently lowers viscosity such that older IDI engines can use it without modification to the engine. The biodiesel from this recipe may damage Direct Injection or Common Rail diesel engines. Use this recipe at your own risk.

Methanol 14% by volume of the WVO used

NaOH (3.5 grams + Titration) X Liters of oil
OR
KOH (5.5 grams + Titration) X Liters of oil

Temperature 130°F – 150°F
While oil is heating mix methanol and caustic
Once the oil is up to temperature add the methanol.
In an Appleseed, it should take one minute for each gallon of WVO to add the methanol. If you have a 35 gallon batch, it should take 35 minutes to introduce the methanol.
Mix for one hour
Settle overnight
If you achieve separation then it is good enough
Some people using this recipe allow the fuel to air out and settle for a few days to a few weeks and use it unwashed.

ASTM Recipe for Biodiesel

As the titration levels of your feedstock oil increases it becomes more difficult to make ASTM level conversions. Neutral on Infopop suggested that increasing the catalyst by multiplying the the titration number by a correction factor would help people to meet ASTM level conversion with high titration oils. The recipe is identical to the The Standard Recipe above except when calculating the amount of catalyst. In this recipe we first multiply the titration number by 1.15 then add that to our 5 gram base to come up with the grams of NaOH per Liter of WVO.

Compromises

We can fine tune our recipe by altering the recipe for biodiesel slightly. If you can't meet your quality standard there are three basics you can adjust. Increasing methanol compensates for short mixing times and poor processor mixing. Increasing catalyst increses conversion and also increases soap production. Increasing mixing time can compensate (up to a point) for poor mixing or insufficient methanol or low processing temperatures. As a rule of thumb, keep the changes in your biodiesel recipe small.

More Biodiesel Recipes

Two Stage Base / Base Biodiesel Recipes
Two Stage Acid / Base Biodiesel Recipes