Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig
OK, but it just doesn't seem cost effective to test every batch of BD to ASTM standards if you are using an unknown feed-stock. Are these commercial users producing a product that is certified to meet ASTM D6751?
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They don't have to. If you are collecting thousands of gallons a week and mixing it all together you'll arrive at an average quality for the oil and then you gear your process to that. The food particles and junk in the oil are all filtered out early in the process, and another trick is to use just a touch more lye than what the oil's ph actually requires. Most of the remaining impurities drop out of the bio with the glycerol in the settling phase of production, and when you are recovering the excess methanol the excess unreacted lye hooks up with the fatty acid molecules and drops out as soap. Using these kind of methods they only have to do periodic random sampling to make sure things stay on track.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig
If so, the whole "free WVO" thing will be over the minute commercial BD becomes cost effective compared to petro-diesel.
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Like others have said, free WVO is already over for the most part. Comercial bio is already cost effective. We have a medium sized production plant in Arlington WA just north of Seattle that produces all their bio from WVO. I haven't checked lately but last time I did, they were selling it for about $0.50 a gallon less than petro.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig
Personally, I don't care either way; fuel is still much too cheap to play around with either WVO or commercial BD. If/when the price doubles, I'll start thinking about commercial BD, maybe.
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NAH, you don't want to go using bio - leave it for me!
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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
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