residential weekend course

how to make biodiesel

venue: Redfield Community, Bucks

Produce your own cheap, carbon-neutral diesel – no need for alterations to your engine. This course covers everything from small home-made plant, to the chemistry involved in biodiesel production; supply of used cooking oil and other chemicals; vehicle considerations; Environment Agency and VAT law; and plant design and construction using readily-available materials. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask specific questions, and to discuss your own project and those of other participants.

  • what is biodiesel?
  • environmental benefits of biodiesel
  • theory: two ways of making biodiesel, using two different reactions
  • biodiesel v. pure vegetable oil
  • ingredients: supply of used cooking oil and other reagents
  • vehicle considerations: the functioning of a diesel engine; fuel quality; engine requirements
  • health and safety: handling of flammable liquids; minimising the risk of personal injury
  • Environment Agency: the ‘Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control’ document; charging structures; criteria for ‘low-impact plant’
  • Customs & Excise, and VAT law
  • practical sessions: plant design and construction using readily-available materials; making biodiesel
  • course participants receive a copy of our book: How to Make Biodiesel

dates: see 'book online' below

more on biodiesel


how to book:
  

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arrive:
  
Friday evening at 6.30 for dinner at 7.30
depart:
  
Sunday after lunch (served at 1.00)
directions:
  
click here for directions by bicycle, public transport and car
what to bring:
  
pen and notebook; towel; work clothes or overalls; boots / wellies (meals and bedding are provided)
NO DOGS PLEASE
let us know:
  
if you are vegan or have any food allergies, or any special needs
accommodation:
  
3-4 people sharing single-sex rooms
prices:
  
£190 high-waged; £170 waged;
£150 student / unwaged
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30 admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course
car sharing:
  
visit our car sharing forum to offer or request a lift
 

 

 

 


mixing the ingredients to make biodiesel from different batches of oil; you will also test the pH of various oils, and do a titration to establish the amount of catalyst needed to convert a particular batch of oil to biodiesel


 



 


ingredients and by-products: clockwise from left – wash-water, glycerine, finished biodiesel, potassium hydroxide, methanol



 

 

 


classroom-based topics include the environmental benefits of biofuels, the cost effectiveness of different scales of production, the diesel engine, storage, supply of oils and reagents, Customs and Excise, Environment Agency