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There are so many reasons why you should consider biodiesel as part of your life and every reason why you should consider making an effort to learn how to make homemade biodiesel. Don’t ditch your New Year’s resolution already! We surely have not forgotten that awful spike in gasoline prices a year or so ago, have we? We would all like to take more control over our lives, in any way that we can and not feel that we are slaves to forces, organisations, governments or even countries beyond our reach.

While everyone else around us may appear to be selfish or consumed by their own issues, even if this is not the case, we should ensure that we individually take action to protect our planet. Individuals can make a difference and as our transportation methods account for a sizeable part of greenhouse gas emissions, if (as most people) you need a vehicle to get around, consider fuelling it with biodiesel or at least a blend.

Making biodiesel is a realistic option. In short, you need to engage a process called transesterification. Fundamentally, you will need animal or vegetable oils, also known as triglycerides and work to remove the glycerine. By using a catalyst, lye, you would remove fatty acids and be left with biodiesel.

A system allowing you to make bio diesel can be established at relatively low cost. Nor do you have to be a chemist or have the entire volunteer fire department on standby as you experiment! You can start out small, see how you get along and work up from there. It’s perfectly feasible for you to make biodiesel fuel for your vehicle and those of your family and save good amounts of money from your annual budget.

Some of the basic chemicals that you will need when making biodiesel fuel include methanol. The methanol needs to be almost pure for it to work. You might think the methanol is linked to global warming and it is in a certain way, but it’s used in very much smaller quantities. In terms of emissions, you will definitely be making a difference versus petroleum or petro diesel. The catalyst, lye, should be protected as it can absorb moisture from the atmosphere. Pick up caustic soda or potassium hydroxide and don’t breathe any fumes or get the mixture on your skin.

Start your initial experiments by using regular, over-the-counter canola oil or sunflower oil. In addition to the methanol and the caustic soda you will need a blender, accurate measuring scales and receptacles, a suitably constructed container (look for the #2 designation on the underside of the container), two different funnels, a large bottle for the settling process, a separate bottle for washing and a thermometer.

You’re now ready to go, and can start testing and venturing into your new world of propulsion! With so much to gain, not only ecologically, but also financially and politically, what could be the reason – or reasons, why it’s taking such an incredibly long period of time to make this extraordinary change for the better, for all of us, not just now, but for all of the future generations which will follow as well?

Filed under: Hobbies on February 10th, 2010