Methanol Recovery System and Composting of waste Glycerin

1. Methanol Recovery SystemandComposting of waste Glycerin Gemini Meeh Joe Pearson Dr. Serita Frey

2. Recovering excess methanol from biodiesel and glycerin Why we need it: Excess methanol is used to generate a complete reaction Why we need to recover it: Cost savings from capturing free methanol in the biodiesel and glycerin reduce the cost of biodiesel product Free methanol in biodiesel will raise flash point level above ASTM spec., must be below 300°C Free methanol in glycerin may be hazardous to composting microorganisms

3. Process Description Started with a conglomeration of plumbing parts. Wound copper tubing, and inserted it into a 4” PVC pipe? Condensing column Used old Propane tank as recovery container. Whole system is under vacuum.

4. Approach Free methanol is recovered from heated biodiesel and glycerin by circulating the solution through the reactor? increases rate of methanol diffusion out of solution. Vacuum is activated (15inHg) to lower the boiling point of methanol. Air is allowed in through the base of the reactor so air bubbles can pass through the biodiesel and glycerin. This has the effect of creating more surface area for methanol vapors to leave the solution. Cold water is circulated through the PVC water jacket to cool the copper coil and cause the methanol vapors to condense. The condensed methanol is collected in the recovery container

5. Results and Recommendations First trial of condenser run; operated for 15 minutes. 20-30ml of methanol recovered. Contamination of vacuum pump oil, i.e. methanol vapors passing through the condensing column Need to install a methanol trap to collect any vapors that pass through the column. Formulate method for determining the ideal operating parameters to collect all vapors Perform further tests to determine most efficient and complete recovery process

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9. Composting of Waste Glycerin Disposing of waste glycerin via composting is becoming an increasingly popular disposal method. The remaining methanol in the glycerin could cause problems in the microbial community of a compost system.

10. Process Description Measured out compost into 3 samples. Put them in an incubator at 38 degree Celsius for 3 day periods. After 3 days, the samples were measured for their CO2 content using an Infrared Gas analyzer (IRGA). The amount of CO2 is a good indicator of the health and productivity of microbes.

11. Approach Working with Dr. Serita Frey, Soil Scientist in UNH’s Natural Resources department. Could not find a study like this one to refer to, so this part of the project sets baseline data for the rest of the project (e.g. when the glycerin is added to the compost samples)

12. Results and Recommendations The following graph depicts the IRGA readings (CO2 content) for the three samples on each of the eight sampling days. Day 5, highlighted in yellow represents the reading after sample 2 was replaced with a blank. Sample 2 had an unfortunate accident. Might have skewed the data.

13. Results and Recommendations

14. Results and Recommendations The next phase of the composting project is determining the amount of waste glycerin that should be added to the soil samples. If the material amounts are suitable, then this experiment should be helpful in determining the effect the glycerin has on the microbial community.

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