Tutorial 5 - Drying Washed Biodiesel

Tutorial 5 - Drying Washed Biodiesel

Motivation

Washed biodiesel contains trace amounts of distilled water which is harmful to diesel engines.  Applying heat with constant stirring evaporates water from the biodiesel.  After drying biodiesel it is ready for testing and commercial use.

Materials

• washed biodiesel
• thermometer
• stir plate/heating element
• magnetic stir bar
• beaker

Procedure 

1. Take washed biodiesel in a beaker and place on stir plate/heating element.
2. Place magnetic stir bar in beaker. Turn on stir plate.  Keep the heating level lower than a setting of three.  Center the beaker so that the stir bar is spinning in the center.
3. Place the thermometer in the beaker, on the edge away from the stir bar.
4. Leave the biodiesel to sit for approximately 30 minutes.  Do not let the temperature rise above 60°C and keep the temperature above 50°C.  If you see water bubbles appear at the bottom of the beaker, use the thermometer to mix them to the top.
5. Repeat drying process until a newspaper can be read through the biodiesel sample.