A few weeks ago, I went to Lengis Hijau Foundation to learn how to create our own home-made biodiesel from used cooking oil. I was sure that making it would be very difficult, but to my surprise, it was actually really easy. The ingredients and tools needed to make our home-made biodiesel are easy to get a hold of, so it won?t cause you much trouble. 

Ingredients needed:

Used cooking oil

Liquified Potassium Hydroxide

methanol

tools needed:

mixer

beaker

funnel

mask

gloves

stove

Steps to making biodiesel:

Step 1: heat the used cooking oil 

Step 2: mix the liquified potassium hydroxide with methanol

Step 3: pour the mixture into the heated used cooking oil

Step 4: dissolve the new mixture completely using a mixer

Step 5: pour the finished product into a bottle using a funnel

Step 6: wait for a few minutes for the product to settle

NOTE: pour in the mixture of potassium hydroxide and methanol slowly into the used cooking oil as it is corrosive and may cause severe eye damage. It is also highly flammable so keep it safe from flames. The gas produced is toxic when inhaled, which is why we need the mask. This project must be done in an OPEN SPACE.

The products that are produced in this project are biodiesel and glycerin. Both of these products are used up and not thrown away. The biodiesel is used as fuel for diesel machines while the glycerin can be used for various products such as soap, make-up, animal feed, etc.

Advantage of using biodiesel instead of normal fuel

Biodiesel has plenty of benefits. Research has shown that by using biodiesel, nitrogen oxide emissions has decreased to almost zero. Greenhouse gases are also reduced as the carbon dioxide produced by the burning of biodiesel is taken in again during the planting of soybeans for the oil. Biodiesel also lubricates machines which elongates the average lifespan of these machines so that it reaches its maximum life and not wear off.

For more information on how to make home-made biodiesel, please feel free to contact me and check out green-t34m.blogspot.com