Diary of a Mad Scientist

I am teaching an Advanced Topics class in Concord, CA (SF Bay Area suburbs) on Sat-Sun April 18-19, with a one-day optional Introduction To Biodiesel Production class the day before on Friday, Apr 17th:
Registration info will be posted at www.girlmark.com/tour shortly

working with high-free-fatty-acid oil

working with high-water feedstocks

acidulating glycerine and wash water for easier disposal and cost savings

testing biodiesel, glycerine, and wash water for soap

producing biodiesel from oils recovered from glycerine

acid-catalyzed esterification options

methanol recovery from biodiesel (GL-1 process) and glycerine.

using glycerine as a solvent in various stages of the process

There will be an extensive hands-on section of the class devoted to techniques for making biodiesel using ethanol instead of methanol, and we will discuss small-scale fuel ethanol production.

We will also discuss water-free soap removal such as the use of the GL-1 process and ion exchange resins.

Registration info will be posted at www.girlmark.com/tour shortly