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two-day
course
how to make biodiesel |
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.
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what
is biodiesel?
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environmental
benefits of biodiesel
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theory:
two ways of making biodiesel, using two different reactions
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biodiesel
v. pure vegetable oil
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ingredients:
supply of used cooking oil and other reagents
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vehicle
considerations: the functioning of a diesel engine; fuel quality;
engine requirements
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health
and safety: handling of flammable liquids; minimising the risk
of personal injury
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Environment
Agency: the ‘Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control’
document; charging structures; criteria for ‘low-impact
plant’
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Customs
& Excise, and VAT law
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practical
sessions: plant design and construction using readily-available
materials; making biodiesel
-
more
on biodiesel
how
to book: |
|
if you can't open
the booking form, you need Acrobat
Reader - it's free
|
arrive: |
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for a 10am prompt start each day |
depart: |
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after
the course finishes at 5pm each day |
directions: |
|
click here for
a map and directions to Hulme Community Garden Centre |
what
to bring: |
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work
clothes;
pen and notebook |
let
us know: |
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if
you have any special needs |
price: |
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£120
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30
admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course |
lunch: |
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bring
a packed lunch or you can get lunch at the wacky and wonderful ' Kim by the Sea' cafe over the road |
car
sharing: |
|
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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 |
