Mist Washing

"At Last...Washing Biodiesel And Quality Testing Without Headaches and Hassles"

Washing biodiesel is Here.

The No Fluff, No BS Guide to Washing and Quality Testing Biodiesel.

Now You Can Have Quality Biodiesel Even Better Than Some Commercial Dealers!

My methods are So Simple, Anyone Can Do It and Start Saving Money Today.

Mist Washing

The purpose of mist washing biodiesel is to remove left over catalyst, alcohol and other impurities. Before washing biodiesel is normally very caustic and has a high pH in the 7.0 to 10.0 range. If this doesn't mean anything to you at this point, don't sweat it and simply take my word for it.

The good news is plain tap water is about all you need to perform this procedure. Done correctly it should wash out enough of the catalyst to bring the pH to where you want it...that is, neutral.

The mist washing technique:

1.) Fill your washing tank about half full of unwashed biodiesel.

2.) Using a plant mister, like the kind found in greenhouses and gardening stores, spray a fine mist over the top of the biodiesel very gently. What you want is NOT to break the surface of the oil.

NOTE: If you're not careful when doing this you run the risk of forming an emulsion or "glop." This IS going to ruin your day, big time.

3.) Since water is heavier than biodiesel, the water will filter through the biodiesel and settle on the bottom, taking the impurities with it.

4.) Be careful of the water flow rate...you don't want too much water, too fast. You want a nice, even mist.

5.) Run the spray until you have roughly 3/4 of a tank full now. The amount is up to you, and is a personal decision, but generally, I do about 50% of the volume of the biodiesel.

6.) The first time, the water collected at the bottom of your wash tank will be completely white. Don't panic. This is what it should look like. Drain it off via the valve on the bottom of your tank.

7.) Rinse and repeat, as they say. After washing a couple of times, (use your judgment) your biodiesel should be much clearer, or lighter in color.

8.) After the final mist washing, let it sit undisturbed for 12 hours or so. Let any remaining water settle to the bottom. Drain any remaining water.

If the biodiesel is still cloudy...

Heat it up slowly to about 55c, or 130f.
Keep it at that temp for about 10 minutes
Let it cool
Then once cold, filter it through a 10 micron filter.

If you still feel there is too much water...

Heat it up again and hold it there another 15-20 minutes. Any remaining water should evaporate out.

Now you are ready to filter your Biodiesel into your storage containers or tank. It is generally accepted to filter Biodiesel through a 10-micron filter before using it or placing it into storage containers. Filtering your fuel cold will remove any components that solidify at cooler temperatures.