While I’ve heard of biodiesel and creating renewable fuels, I thought it was exclusive to corporations and a more eco-friendly future. As it so happens, many people can create their own from used cooking oil.
Here’s the simplest way I discovered to make biodiesel, regardless of your skill level and knowledge. The more people try this, the brighter the future could look. If you are looking to amplify your homesteading or fuel reserves, I think this is one of the best ways to go about it.
What Is Biofuel and its Different Applications?
Biofuel is a fuel source made from renewable resources, or biomass. Biodiesel is a sustainable alternative to conventional options.
Feedstocks for Biofuels
Several materials can create biofuels, which are called feedstocks. They include:
- Plants, like algae or corn
- Forestry products, like sawdust and wood chips
- Food waste, like leftovers and compostable items
- Animal waste, like manure
Biofuels come in many types, including bioethanol made from fermented sugar and biogas from decomposing organic matter. However, I learned biodiesel is accessible because cooking fats are the primary ingredient you need. You might already have it in your kitchen. Then, you can cut traditional diesel use by supplementing it with biodiesel or use it by itself.
Biodiesel Applications
You may not have made biodiesel before because you didn’t realize how you could use it. Is it compatible with your car or lawn equipment, like a mower?
You can use what you create in any engine that relies on regular diesel, which is why it has a wide array of personal and commercial applications. The most obvious is transportation, which could fuel my diesel car or a city’s public transit.
Biodiesel can also be used to create fertilizer for agriculture or to improve your own garden with a nontoxic alternative. It can also power other equipment, such as heating systems. If it’s compatible with regular diesel, you can use biodiesel.
The U.S. Department of Energy states biodiesel and conventional diesel qualifications on machinery means they are suitable for both. However, some original equipment manufacturers specify if their machinery isn’t compatible with biodiesel. Be sure to look up the brands of the diesel-powered equipment you’re using to verify before assuming it will work.
It’s clearly more eco-friendly to make biodiesel and reduce fossil fuel reliance, especially when makers produce over 200 million metric tons of vegetable oil annually with expectations of yearly increases. So, how did I go about making it?
How Do You Create Biodiesel by Recycling Cooking Oil?
Used cooking oil is a perfect feedstock for biodiesel because it uses food that would otherwise go in the trash. By recycling oils, I am cutting my household waste generation. Here is a step-by-step method anyone can try with a little safety preparation and knowledge.
1. Gather Your Materials
You’ll obviously need used cooking oil. Vegetable-based cooking oils are good for this, including soybean, palm, sunflower or canola oil. You will also need:
- Methanol
- Lye
- Scales and measuring equipment
- Storage containers
- Filters
- Stirring or blending equipment
- Water
- Biodiesel recipe
2. Prepare the Oil
If you used the oil for something like deep-frying, remove food particles beforehand. You may want to sieve all oil regardless, just to be on the safe side. This is where the filters come in handy. Cheesecloth and similar materials also work — it just needs to have fine enough openings to catch as many solid particulates as possible while allowing the oil to pass through.
The next step in preparing the recycled oil is measuring it according to the recipe and amount you want to make. Typically, the mixture contains 80% oil and 20% methanol to encourage the right reaction. Try not to stray too far from the recipe’s recommendations. If the ratios are off, then the ingredients won’t render usable biodiesel. Ignoring measurements could also lead to safety concerns. Much like baking, making biodiesel is a literal science — prioritize precision and attentiveness.
3. Measure the Lye
Lye, or sodium hydroxide, is the catalyst and will make the methanol and cooking oils transform into biodiesel. Without this, the ingredients will create nothing. Most recipes have these ratios, which I adjust depending on how much I’m making:
- 1,000 milliliters of oil
- 200 milliliters of methanol
- 3.5 grams lye
If you want to use a different catalyst, potassium hydroxide is an option. You would use seven grams instead because it has different properties than lye. However, research shows calcium oxide, also known as lime, is the best catalyst for used cooking oil with a 96% conversion rate in an optimized environment. You may already have lime in your pantry because it’s helpful for other homesteading operations like gardening and food preservation.
You will want to mix this into the methanol mixture. Do not touch it with your hands, as it is caustic and can burn the skin. You don’t need to change the temperature of this mixture for it to work, but make sure you stir it with a safe implement until the lye is completely dissolved.
4. Combine Everything
If you didn’t have protective gear on before, you must put it on now. This process creates fumes, so be careful. Slowly add the methanol-catalyst to the oil, which I heated to around 50 degrees Celcius to speed up the process.
Much like when baking and mixing the wet and dry ingredients, stir continuously as you progressively introduce more lye. Make sure you pour in the mixture slowly so as to not overwhelm the ingredients, causing the reaction to happen too fast. In no time, an interaction called transesterification occurs. This makes the biodiesel and a byproduct, glycerol.
5. Separate Glycerol and Biodiesel
The glycerol isn’t helpful for powering devices, so you’ll need to separate it. Luckily, this should happen automatically if everything reacts properly. Let the mix cool for a day or so, and the denser glycerol will sink to the bottom, leaving the biodiesel floating on top. Extract the liquid biodiesel and put it in the right containers.
6. Wash and Store Safely and Correctly
Even though I filter the cooking oil in the beginning, it’s worth purifying the biodiesel again to remove any lingering impurities. The best way to do this is to wash it. But how do you wash a liquid?
Add some water to the biodiesel and mix. It will separate if you let it sit, much like it did with the glycerol. If the biodiesel is clean, the separated water will be clear. Remove the water, and let the fuel dry. It will naturally evaporate over time. Once this is complete, it’s ready for use. I date and label my biodiesel for safety purposes and store it in a safe, cool location so it stays preserved. All ingredients should receive the same treatment, especially the catalyst because they are impacted by even trace amounts of moisture.
At this stage, you’ll also need to dispose of the glycerol. Don’t ignore this step, because it can lead to pollution if left unattended. Researchers are trying to find applications to make biodiesel creation more sustainable, such as using it for agriculture or sustainable aviation fuels.
Are There Safety Concerns?
While many can try their hand at creating biodiesel, I want to clarify a few safety concerns and how you can keep yourself intact during the creation process. The risks also mean no children or pets should be in and around the area.
First, wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Common PPE for biodiesel mixing includes gloves, safety goggles and a mask to avoid inhaling fumes. You will work with chemicals, so there are inherent risks associated with coming into contact with or breathing them in. Wearing the right clothes will help avoid burns, and working in a place with quality ventilation improves airflow.
Additionally, methanol is flammable. Ensure you’re working in a place where the chances of a fire are nonexistent. Do not light anything or smoke near the work area. If an accident occurs, have fire safety equipment accessible and call the appropriate authorities. Do not assume you can handle a spreading fire alone.
As I learned, safe storage is almost as important as a safe workspace to make biodiesel. Chemical storage for future mixtures should have clear labels and airtight, nonbreakable containers in cool, dry spots away from those it would hurt. Many of the ingredients are reactive to various stimuli, like moisture or heat. Not all will produce a dangerous reaction, but you should always assume improper storage will lead to compromised operations.
What Are the Advantages of Making Your Own Biodiesel?
Early on, I wondered whether making my own fuel from cooking oil was worth the effort. This is what I learned.
Cost-Effectiveness
If you use cooking oil you’re already buying, you don’t need to buy fresh oil to make biodiesel. In America, biodiesel is still more expensive than conventional options. It costs $3-$5 for every $1 of diesel, and it’s never dipped below diesel’s price despite it coming close a few times.
Eventually, prices should be regulated as more people pursue renewable fuel sources. This will only happen by increasing public awareness and advocating for legislation. However, recycling cooking oil prevents you from paying inflated prices while allowing you to enjoy the rest of the renewable fuel source’s advantages.
Environmental Benefits
The environmental benefits are the most notable advantage of biodiesel. By making my own, I know I committed to a fuel option with these statistical advantages:
- 86% fewer greenhouse gas emissions
- 47% reductions in particulate matter
- 67% fewer hydrocarbon emissions
- 79% reductions in wastewater
- 96% fewer hazardous wastes generated
- Lowers smog contributions
Plus, you also eliminate fatty oils from landfills and the environment, which can spread food waste and other harmful compounds into habitats.
Renewable Resource
Similarly, diesel is nonrenewable. Environmental activists can’t support the fossil fuel industry because it’s inherently exploitative and destructive. Making biodiesel from recycling feedstocks encourages a circular economy, which should be the planet’s ideal. It means none of the ingredients go to waste. If every diesel device transitioned to biofuels, then it could stop tapping into finite resources that promote ecological destruction, species displacement and resource scarcity.
Energy Independence
According to the United Nations, around 760 million people had no access to electricity in 2022. Even more people live worldwide in energy deserts, where access is minimal or limited. The best way to fix this is through legislation and diversifying energy assets. This means having more places to source power, and making biodiesel is adding another asset to the world’s energy portfolio.
Improved Engine Performance
I didn’t realize biodiesel would have such a positive impact on my equipment. It is far less abrasive because it has higher lubricity, meaning the fuel moves easily throughout the mechanisms. In addition to making engines operate at peak efficiency, it also makes them last longer.
Community Engagement and Education
When I started making my own biodiesel and realized the impact it was making in my life, I discovered I could share these benefits with others. People throw or wash away cooking oil all the time. It becomes a habit and most people never think of the utility it could have.
Making and using renewable fuels is an opportunity to engage with your community and educate people on energy opportunities they may not even be aware of. Who knows — you could change someone’s energy confidence by relaying a simple recipe.
The Many Applications of Used Cooking Oil
Making biodiesel isn’t exclusive to corporate labs and government agencies. If I can do it, so can you. It is perfect if you’re establishing a self-sufficient, low-waste homestead or stocking up on extra resources in case of an emergency. If you make biodiesel yourself, you can save tons of money by purchasing it from corporate suppliers while reducing your individual impact on the planet.
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