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 our new 'how to make biodiesel' book

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; money for possible trip to pub (meals and bedding are provided)
NO DOGS PLEASE, as we have sheep
let us know:
 
if you are vegan or have any food allergies
accommodation:
 
3-4 people sharing single-sex rooms
sat evening:
 
either a trip to the pub in Winslow, or (depending on the weather) a barbecue and bonfire. You'll be able to meet and chat with other Redfield members
prices:
 
£190 high-waged; £160 waged;
£130 student / unwaged
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30 admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course
discounts:
 
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