Glycerin Concerns

[Jack_Toepfer]

Should I be concerned with glycerin in WVO? I never considered it as a problem until I read about it on another forum where someone was bashing WVO.

I thought glycerin was just a by-product of making B100, and not an actual contaminant in the WVO. Am I way off base here?

[greasyX]

Glycerin is a bi-product of thre chemical reaction between Methanol,Lye,and WVO.Sorta like putting mentos in a diet coke,in the bio-d Biz they"wash" the bio-d to remove it,and it takes alittle Methanol with it.Glycerin is Ideally a soap product.There may be trace amounts of Glycerides in your WVO(naturally occuring),but not enough to cause alarm.I would be more concerned with boil-out,or caustic fryer cleaners finding there way into your WVO.The glycerin concern really is for those making Bio-D(transesterfication).Glycerin for the most part is lighter then oil and any great amount will ":float" on the surface(thin like paint thinner).Trust me this,with a heated V3 module you have alot less worries then the guy burning B-100,especially improperly washed Bio-d.......hope this clears it up for you alittle............greasy

[Clay]

Should I be concerned with glycerin in WVO? I never considered it as a problem until I read about it on another forum where someone was bashing WVO.

I thought glycerin was just a by-product of making B100, and not an actual contaminant in the WVO. Am I way off base here?

No need to worry about it. Its there but its not...if that makes any sense.
Let me take a stab at this...Vegi oil is a Triglyceride or Lipid...a glyserol molecule combined with fatty acids. In making bio diesel, the reaction brought on by mixing Methidox will strip this glyserol molecule and allow it to seperate durring this chemical change. The result is straight glycerin.
This glycerol molecule is what makes vegi all sticky when it drys.

[Jack_Toepfer]

I see. So it is present, but because it is a part of the oil and not a byproduct (like with B100) there is no major concern.

The ash is a non issue then? Or does the ash not exist?

[HORSEMOVER]

No need to worry about it. Its there but its not...if that makes any sense.
Let me take a stab at this...Vegi oil is a Triglyceride or Lipid...a glyserol molecule combined with fatty acids. In making bio diesel, the reaction brought on by mixing Methidox will strip this glyserol molecule and allow it to seperate durring this chemical change. The result is straight glycerin.
This glycerol molecule is what makes vegi all sticky when it drys.

Clay did you have your lab coat on when you typed that? Or maybe I should address you as Professor.

[skyskijason]

I see. So it is present, but because it is a part of the oil and not a byproduct (like with B100) there is no major concern.

The ash is a non issue then? Or does the ash not exist?

yes, kinda. the transesterification (sp?) removes the 'thicker' component of VO - the glycerin. This allows for more diesel-like viscosity. In laymans terms anyway. The answer is we HEAT the VO to reduce viscosity and it is NOT a concern for us. If glycerin is still present in bio-d, it ain't bio-d yet - that is how you make it, ya remove glycerin from VO... btw, ya can't 'wash' bio w/glycerin present - it makes a beautiful emulsion, how I know...

I've looked at WMO furnaces/boilers that will allow me to blend my glycerin by-product from bio-d up to 50% w/WMO. So it does in fact burn and likely produces ash that would not be good in our PSD combustion chamber.

Bottom line, ya got a Vegistroke System so you don't even NEED to know any of this. Jason C's got ya covered!! Tell those guys to get a V3 and they won't have to worry either. Let the haters hate, there ain't 'nuff oil for ALL of us anyway!!!

[Clay]

Clay did you have your lab coat on when you typed that? Or maybe I should address you as Professor.

LOL...no lab coat here. Not even sure i got all that right, its been awhile since i did Bio-d research and learned that it was too much of a PITA for me to try and do.

[Marv]

LOL...no lab coat here. Not even sure i got all that right, its been awhile since i did Bio-d research and learned that it was too much of a PITA for me to try and do.

I've always thought it was too much trouble, but after reading all the tech talk in your earlier post, I'm convinced it's too much trouble!

[Clay]

I've always thought it was too much trouble, but after reading all the tech talk in your earlier post, I'm convinced it's too much trouble!

I just sold my old 91 gallon tank to a guy who was making Bio-D and now is tired of it and hes going to convert for straight vegi.

[Marv]

I just sold my old 91 gallon tank to a guy who was making Bio-D and now is tired of it and hes going to convert for straight vegi.

Sounds like a smart man. Doesn't get much easier than running WVO...especially with a Frybrid setup.