New test for total glycerin

b100supply.com has a new field test for total glycerin level in your fuel. The ASTM spec says glycerin contamination should not exceed 0.24%, so you can use this test to get a ball park idea of whether your fuel is in spec. The 3/27 or methanol test is an even simpler and cheaper way to see if your fuel is likely to be in spec, as it seems to fail when fuel tests higher than about 0.24%. You might use the new glycerin level test along with 3/27 to see how they compare. Since glycerin contamination is usually the culprit when folks have fuel filter plugging problems, testing for glycerin is probably the single most important quality test to do. But make sure your fuel doesn't have water in it either!

City of Daphne using a BioPro to recycle veg oil into biodiesel

Here's a great example of how a small city is using a BioPro190 biodiesel processor to turn waste veg oil into fuel! This post compliments of Graydon Blair of Utah Biodiesel Supply..

Daphne Public Utilities - Daphne, Alabama
http://daphneutilities.com/daphne/recycle_bio.htm
The city of Daphne Alabama purchased a BioPro 190 earlier this year as a show piece for their oil recycling program. Citizens of Daphne, Alabama are encouraged to drop off their waste vegetable oil at designated drop off stations placed throughout the city. The oil is collected, filtered, and then processed into Biodiesel by the city in their brand new BioPro 190.

Recently I had a chance to follow up with them to see how they were enjoying it and they were extremely ecstatic about it. They said they were really impressed with how easy it was to use. All of their staff involved in the program really like using it & seeing how quick they can make a batch.

Prior to having a BioPro, they had more cumbersome equipment that they used to make their Biodiesel with. They said that using the BioPro is so much easier and more effective.

So much more effective that they'll be taking it on the road soon on a tour of several other municipalities in Alabama to show just how easy it is to create a city wide oil recycling program. Get this! They even recycle the glycerin and turn it into soap! So not only are they recycling waste oil which may have ended up in their sewer system, they now make biodiesel to power the city trucks and recycle the glycerin and make soap which they sell as well! How's that for being environmentally responsible!

How to break an emulsion

Here's a great post about how to use salt to break biodiesel emulsions formed when washing the fuel.

Kuma Stove warmth!

Came home from skiing in Canada on Sunday to a house that was stone cold. Fired up the Kuma stove, and now the whole house is warm and cozy.. Check out the nice flame it puts out in this 10 second video..

Coop open house for Biznik members

The snow started falling right about when the open house started today. This event was open only to members of Biznik, which is a great online networking community. Only a few people braved the snow today, but with some hot cider and interesting conversation we managed to have a good time.. Check out the snow in Seattle!