If you want to start making biodiesel at home you will need a steady supply of waste vegetable oil (WVO) or another biodiesel feedstock, some methanol and catalyst. You will also need some hardware - a complete biodiesel processor & a titration kit.
But before you take one step further and start to make your own biodiesel fuel take some time and think long and hard about it.
Is it a good idea to be making biodiesel at home?
- To make your own biodiesel fuel is very simple but it is hard and dirty work. In fact it is so dirty that it featured on the show "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel. You will probably use WVO to make your biodiesel with and you will be up to your elbows in it. It is not glamorous. If you find the idea of smelly used oil with pieces of fries or chicken floating around in it disgusting then making biodiesel might not be for you...
- There are no shortcuts or half measures - you have to give everything. If you are in a hurry when you do it or if you do half a job then you won't be able to make high quality biodiesel. And if you use anything less then perfect in your car you might have dire consequences. Word if mouth is very powerful marketing tool. If someone has a breakdown because of Homemade biofuel that didn't measure up to standards then it gives biodiesel a undeserved bad reputation.
- It is great to make biodiesel at home, but before you do consider the other people that you share your house with as well as your neighbours. You will be working with potentially dangerous and very caustic chemicals. Safety should be your top priority. The whole setup will also take up quite a lot of space. You need to know if you have enough space for everything before you go out and buy that processor. Your neighbours will probably have no complaints if you give them some free biodiesel every now and then.
If you are not scared off by hard and dirty work and if you talked it over with everyone involved then you are ready to start making your own biodiesel fuel.
Making and using homemade biodiesel has many advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages can all be controlled or completely eliminated by taking some easy steps.
You will feel vindicated as you fill up your car or truck with environmentally friendly diesel fuel that you made yourself.
Welcome to the Biodiesel Energy Revolution!!
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