SOPs for Download
These standard operating procedures are used to make biodiesel ethyl esters from recycled cooking oil.
General Calculations for Oil, Ethanol, Catalyst needed can be found here
Read Before Starting Protocol can be found here
Drying and Transferring Ethanol instructions can be found here
Reactor Video SOPs – to run the 20L reactor are found here.
Full EPA Quality Assurance Plan (all SOPs) can be found here.
Potassium Glyceroxide Catalyst Synthesis
Biodiesel ethyl ester synthesis is enabled by the use of a potassium glyceroxide catalyst formulation (KGly2). It is made by mixing 1 molar equivalent of potassium hydroxide with 2 molar equivalents of glycerol and removing the water that is formed using heat and vacuum. The molten catalyst is then solubilized in anhydrous ethanol and the resulting solution is used in the transesterification reaction.
Infared Spectroscopy (IR)
Used to monitor the transesterification reaction. Signals for feedstock triglyceride carbonyl (1744 cm-1) and product biodiesel carbonyl (1737 cm-1) are used to monitor reactions in real time. Glycerol, ethanol and water contamination in biodiesel after separation and polishing steps can be observed by IR as a broad OH peak at 3400 cm-1.
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Used to quantify the types of ethyl esters present in the biodiesel product along with any residual glycerol or ethanol. Different feedstock oils (canola, soy, corn, etc.) have different triglyceride profiles and result in different biodiesel products. Saturated and unsaturated oils have different physical properties (e.g. freezing point, energy content).
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Used to quantify reaction progress by separating triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and ethyl esters.
Bomb Calorimetry
Used to quantify the energy content of the biodiesel in calories/gram. The calorimetry measurements are compared to those of standards, and petroleum diesel to understand the energy value of the fuels.