Biodiesel fuel is a powerful way to ween the economy off of fossil fuels. Instead of helping to send billions of dollars to oil barons every year, YOU could start producing your own fuel in your own home! Once you know the production methods, the process to make biodiesel is easy enough that anyone could produce their own bio-degradable fuel source and reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Doing this not only helps the environment, you can produce your own fuel for less than $1.00 per gallon!

Benefits of Using Biodiesel

You could fill an entire book on this topic alone. Here’s just a brief list of the benefits of using biodiesel instead of reliance on fossil fuels:

• The environmental impact is much less due to using a clean-burning fuel, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Putting the production of alternative fuels in your hands decentralizes the power of energy generation from the oil companies, leading to a safer, energy-independent world.
• Potential tax benefits!
• It’s cheaper!

What Is Biodiesel Made From?

There are a number of ways to make biodiesel, including:

• Vegetable Oil
• Peanuts, and other virgin oils
• Algae
• Animal Tallow, Grease, and Lard

Instead of extracting crude oil buried deep in the earth, then shipping it around the world to be processed into a form that your vehicle can use, you can extract these natural oils and process them in your home. Vegetable oil (particularly, waste vegetable oil) is generally considered the best and most easily accessible source for home-based biodiesel production.

What Are The Steps Involved In Making Biodiesel?

Rule #1 is safety. There are a number of precautions that you must take before you begin your own biodiesel factory. Production can be dangerous since you will be dealing with toxic chemicals. Be sure you follow all instructions to the letter when using your equipment!

• Check local fire codes before you begin any chemical mixing process.
• Avoid production around children or animals.
• Be sure appropriate ventilation is present.
• Some chemicals used in the process are flammable, so make sure safety always comes first and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Ok, once the safety concerns are out of the way, the basic steps for biodiesel creation are fairly simple:

• You will be mixing the natural oils with an alcohol and a chemical catalyst to convert the original oil into a useful combustible substance.
• The oil must be heated to a pre-determined temperature (this differs based on the type of oil used and the catalysts involved).
• You then mix the catalyst and alcohols into the oil and “cook” the concoction for a certain amount of time.
• The resulting chemicals will separate into layers that you need to extract and filter.
• You will then “wash” the extracted biodiesel to purify the resulting fuel.
• There is a drying period to remove any excess water, the fuel is run through another filtration system, and voila! You have biologically-produced diesel fuel that will work in any diesel engine!

How Long Does It Take To Make Biodiesel?

A typical batch of 25-100 gallons can be created in as little as 3 days, but often can take up to a week. These results are typical of most in-home biodiesel kits.

How Do I Get Started With Step-By-Step Instructions For Biodiesel Production?

One of the best guides available on the Internet was written by Joseph Then, a self-proclaimed “biodiesel nut”. His book, How To Make Your Own Biodiesel At Home will lead you through the entire process, from buying the equipment to using your very first gallon. This complete guide will open your eyes to the simplicity of creating your own fuel and laughing at your neighbors who still pay the full price at the pump!

This book will change your life! Think about this: Joseph’s book will pay for itself after only 1 tank of gas!