Use the oil used to fry potatoes to make biodiesel.
Biodiesel will run any diesel engine. To make this fuel, you can collect used vegetable oil that restaurants would regularly discard. When mixed with basic chemicals, the vegetable oil waste turns into an green and cost-efficient fuel.
Instructions
1. Use a coffee filter to strain the oil well into a large stockpot. The coffee filter will catch even the tiniest particles of waste.
2. Place the candy thermometer in the oil and heat it to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do not hear popping sounds, this step is done. If you do hear crackling noises, however, heat the oil to 212 degrees Fahrenheit and stir slowly until water rises to the top. Heat the oil to 265 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
3. Set the oil aside to cool.
4. Titrate the oil. Mix 5 grams of lye with 500 milliliters (ml) of distilled water. Remove 5 ml of the mixture and add 45 ml of distilled water.
Mix in 4 ml of oil and 40 ml of isopropyl alcohol in a beaker. Warm the contents in hot water until the mixture is clear.
Slowly add the water and lye mix to the beaker, noting how many milliliters you added, until the mixture's pH is 8.5. Divide the number of milliliters of the water and lye mix you added to the beaker by four. This is how much lye you need.
5. Place lye in a plastic bag until you have the amount determined by the titration test. Seal the bag so the lye does not absorb moisture. Wear plastic gloves while you do this.
6. Pour quickly 200 ml of methanol into the #2 container, using a funnel. Close the container.
7. Pour the lye into the same container, using a different funnel, and screw the cap on the container.
8. Rock the plastic container from side to side until the methanol has completely dissolved the lye and the liquid is clear. The solution inside the container will become hot and turn into sodium or potassium methoxide.
9. Heat the oil to 130 degrees Fahrenheit and pour it into a blender.
10. Add the methoxide to the blender.
11. Close the blender tightly and mix on the lowest setting for 30 minutes.
12. Pour the contents into a 2-liter soda bottle and cap it.
13. Allow the mixture to cool for 24 hours. You will then see two layers: the top is biodiesel and the bottom is a by-product.
14. Pour the biodiesel into another 2-liter bottle, ensuring you get no by-product into the bottle.
15. Test your biodiesel. Pour equal parts biodiesel and water into a clean 2-liter soda bottle and shake for 10 minutes. If the biodiesel separates from the water, you have made a good fuel.
16. Place the biodiesel in a clean 2-liter soda bottle with 2 cups of water. Recap and shake the bottle for 10 minutes. After the biodiesel and water separate, poke a hole at the bottle bottom and let the water drain. Cover the hole with duct tape. Repeat this process until the biodiesel looks clear.
Tags: degrees Fahrenheit, 2-liter soda, 2-liter soda bottle, soda bottle, biodiesel water, clean 2-liter, clean 2-liter soda