Making Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a high quality fuel made by a process called “transesterification”.  It’s a big word for an easy and inexpensive way for you to produce your own fuel. Once you try it, you’ll wonder why you waited so long!

Biodiesel can be produced by chemically reacting a vegetable or animal fat with alcohol (usually methanol) and a catalyst. Catalysts are most commonly lye (NaOH – Sodium Hydroxide) or potash (KOH – Potassium Hydroxide). NWR recommends KOH due to its ease of use.

Benefits:

- Renewable resource
- Reduces dependence on foreign oil
- 90% cleaner burning fuel than petro – diesel
- Eliminates sulfur dioxide
- non-toxic
- non-flammable due to its very high flashpoint.
- requires no engine modifications (in most cases)
- Increases lubricity
- Biodiesel has a higher cetane rating (similar to octane for gasoline).
- cheaper than petro-diesel when made yourself
- no power loss over petro – diesel.