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Process of Bio
Diesel
The Process
The process of converting vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel is called
Transesterification and is luckily less complex then it sounds.
Chemically, Transesterification means taking a triglyceride molecule, or a
complex fatty acid, neutralizing the free fatty acids, removing the
glycerin, and creating an alcohol ester. This is accomplished by mixing
methanol with sodium hydroxide to make sodium methoxide. This liquid is
then mixed into the vegetable oil. After the mixture has settled, Glycerin
is left on the bottom and methyl esters, or biodiesel is left on top and
is washed and filtered.
The final product Bio Diesel fuel, when used directly in a Diesel Engine
will burn up to 75% cleaner then mineral oil Diesel fuel.
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