Gasifier Experimenters Kit

Biomass Energy Foundation: Biodieselconsidering the source, I decided to call it McDIESEL. I applied for acopyright. I even approached McDonalds to see if they were interested.They were, but said they would sue me if I used that name. Later peoplecame to call these fuels "BIODIESEL", and I now live with that. However, Iwould love to have had McDonalds sue me - what publicity!We discovered that there was NO political base for using low cost wastegrease for an alternate fuel. There was a tremendous base for spendingmuch more money to make Biodiesel from Soy Oil. Now biodiesel is highlypolitical and there is a newsletter telling of test results and new companieshoping for government subsidies courtesy of global warming. Check themout at www.biodiesel.org.In February 1990 we tested the fuel on a dynamometer and a bus and it ranfine and had low emissions. We have published a number of papers onBiodiesel from waste grease, but no one is particularly interested.Meanwhile biodiesel from soy is still $3-4/gal.If you are interested in making some biodiesel, here is our recipe for makingit in the kitchen with easily available materials:May 20, 1997TO: People interested in making BiodieselFROM: Thomas B. Reed, the Biomass Energy FoundationSUBJECT: Making Bio-diesel in the kitchenBiodiesel is a new, alternative, renewable, clean diesel fuel made fromNature’s triglycerides - oils, fats, waste cooking oils and many other naturalproducts. ,However, if you would like to try the reaction in your kitchen, here's therecipe for a simple demonstration you can try, using common householdchemicals. (REMEMBER TO HANDLE ALL CHEMICALS WITH CARE!While these are common "household" chemicals, the methanol will burn withan almost invisible flame, so extinguish all fires; the lye can burn yourfingers or blind you. Read the warnings on the can!)The reaction (with the terrible names “transesterification” or “alcoholysis”3)http://www.woodgas.com/biodiesel.htm (2 of 4) [10/9/2008 08:24:27]