Jan Warnqvist's Conversion Test- Outstanding!

There has been a lot of discussion lately about conversion testing.
This test of Jan's, while posted on the JTF site for quite a while, has been
completely overlooked by most people.
The thing that got me really interested about it is there is a fellow on the
biodiesel Basics forum called Maurice who swears by it. He claims that if his
biodiesel does not pass this test it will not work in his furnace.
As no one has ever tested it, and no one put their hand up to test it when I
suggested that it should be tested, it seemed to be a perfect project for a
retired Mouse.
So I teletyped my good friend Mickey and asked him to test it.

The results were unbelieveable!
It actually works, and works well and quick.
And it works on UNWASHED Biodiesel!
Within 10 seconds you know whether it is pass or fail. Over more time you can
get an idea of what the conversion is.

Immediatly below is the procedure as originally posted by Jan.
Below that I have included Mickey's adaptations of the procedure as he teletyped
them to me this evening.
Below that are the tests he performed to justify this post.

Jan Warnqvist original Conversion Test Posting

"Take exactly 25 ml of biodiesel and dissolve it in exactly 225 ml of methanol
in a measuring glass.

"The biodiesel should be fully soluble in the methanol, forming a clear bright
phase. If not, there is pollution in the biodiesel. Each ml of undissolved
material corresponds to 4% by volume. Is there any undissolved material at the
bottom of the measuring glass? If there is, your reaction is not complete and
this is causing you trouble with the water test.

"This method does not cover every aspect of quality, but it gives a hint. It is
valid only for biodiesel made from vegetable and animal oils. It is not valid
for biodiesel made from oils with a very wide fatty acid pattern, such as fish
oils."

This is the information exactly as teletyped to me a few hours ago by Mickey.

Jan Warnqvist's Conversion Test
This is a quick Pass/Fail conversion test for your biodiesel.
It works equally well with washed and dried or unwashed biodiesel. I did not try
washed but not dried biodiesel.

Equipment needed

1. Something to measure out 27 ml of methanol.
2. A small container in which to put the 27ml of methanol. I used a small glass
jar about 11cm (4.5”) high and 5cm (2.5”) across
3. A 3ml syringe without the sharp. These cost me 15c each from my pharmacy and
I used a new one for each test.
4. Biodiesel to be tested.

Procedure
1. Insure the jar is spotlessly clean and dry.
2. Put 27ml of room temperature methanol into the jar.
3. Use the syringe to put exactly 3ml of the biodiesel under test into the
methanol.
4. Gently Swirl clockwise (Anti-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere) for 10
seconds.

If the biodiesel completely dissolves into the methanol and the methanol remains
bright and clear you almost certainly have ASTM conversion biodiesel.
If the Methanol turns and remains cloudy for more than 10 seconds you do not
have ASTM conversion biodiesel. Some biodiesel will eventually settle out to the
bottom of the jar.

Tests Performed

I must admit, I was sceptical; but a sceptic with an open mind.

The first test
This test was performed with the quantities Jan suggests.
I tested some of my standard 15% methanol production biodiesel.
I put the 25ml biodiesel into the 225ml methanol, shook hard and watched.
The methanol turned cloudy and over a few hours a large amount of biodiesel
settled to the bottom.

The second test
I have a number of samples of high conversion re-processed biodiesel sitting
around from other tests, so I checked one of these. Again, using the quantities
recommended by Jan, shook hard and watched the methanol turn cloudy.
However, the cloud quickly cleared and NO biodiesel settled out.
Could it be? Could there actually be something to this test procedure?

So I decided more tests were called for and, as I did not feel like using 225ml
methanol per test, a bit of higher maths (using all 6 fingers and both thumbs)
showed that 27ml methanol and 3ml biodiesel was in the correct ratio.
At great expense I purchased 15 syringes so I could have a clean one to
accurately measure out the biodiesel for each test.
I found that biodiesel attacks these syringes very quickly, not sure whether it
is the rubber or the plastic under attack.


Test 3
This test was with the new smaller amounts of methanol and biodiesel.
This test was with another high conversion re-processed sample.
This time instead of shaking hard I just swirled the test around with the
liquids going no further than about 1/3 up the side of the jar.
The biodiesel immediately completely dissolved into the methanol with NO
cloudiness to the methanol. It remained this way for several days until I
disposed of it.

Test 4
This test was performed the same as test 3, but the biodiesel tested was with
some of my 15% production biodiesel.
The methanol immediately clouded. Over an hour or two the cloud cleared and a
substantial amount of biodiesel settled to the bottom of the jar.

Test 5
This was with Another re-processed high conversion batch and again the biodiesel
immediately completely dissolved into the methanol with no cloudiness. No
biodiesel settled out.

Test 6
I poured a small amount of the biodiesel from test 4 into about 30ml of
biodiesel from test 5 and tested as per instructions.
This produced cloudy methanol which cleared within an hour and a small amount of
biodiesel settled out on the bottom of the jar.

Test 7
Yet another batch of 15% Production biodiesel which clouded and settled out
biodiesel as it set.

I then re-processed a litre of this biodiesel with 1g NaOH in 50ml methanol. As
expected more glycerine settled out.
I then Washed the biodiesel and tested the reprocessed biodiesel

Test 8
This test was of the reprocessed biodiesel used in test 7.
To my surprise, this test produced cloudy methanol! I was amazed. But over an
hour or two a number of “Drops” of biodiesel settled out onto the bottom of the
jar.

I then re-processed this oil a second time and a “Soft Gel” developed which
indicated high conversion.
However, I then re-shook the gelled biodiesel and it broke down into a liquid
and cloudy phase and still remains like this 4 or 5 days later.

Test 9
I tested this unwashed re-reprocessed batch and it passed! No cloud, no
biodiesel settling out.
This test seems to be more “Discerning” than the World Famous Dr Pepper ASTM
Reprocess Technique (Pat Pend) and apparently works on unwashed biodiesel!

Test 10
I made a litre of high conversion biodiesel from some WVO titrating at 0.4
I used 7.5g NaOH mixed into 300ml methanol.
One hour after last shake I tested this biodiesel and the methanol remained
clear and bright!

Test 11
I poured 20ml of this biodiesel into a container and added 2ml of my 15%
production biodiesel and stirred thoroughly.
I then tested this and the methanol clouded. After about 30 minutes the methanol
cleared and there is clearly a small “Glob” of biodiesel on the bottom of the
Jar.

Test 12
Re-tested this unwashed high conversion batch I made a few hours ago.
Results- No cloud and biodiesel completely dissolved in the methanol.

What can I say? It seems to be a resounding success and conversion testing of
biodiesel will never be the Same

MM”

Thank you Mickey, fortunately I do not receive many royalties on my now out of
date conversion test.
I wonder if it will end up in a biodiesel museum?

Saint Tilly, DD; KE; Acronym Police; Sewer Rat (by biogod Keith appointment)




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