Frequently Asked Questions - Methanol

How much methanol do I need to use to make a gallon of biodiesel and can I recover any that is left over?
You will need approximately 20% the amount of methanol compared to the amount of biodiesel you wish to produce on a gallon to gallon basis. So for 100 gallons of biodiesel production, you will need 20 gallons of methanol. Some methanol will be recovered during the process.

Is methanol dangerous or toxic?
YES. Please be careful when handling methanol and take all necessary safety precautions when doing so.

Should I use pre-mixed methylates (either sodium or potassium)?
It is best to use pre-mixed methylates if you are going to be doing very similar production runs (using the same feedstock all the time). If you are using multiple feedstocks for biodiesel production, you should look into mixing your own methylate mixture (according to your titrations) or supplementing the pre-mixed methylate with your own mixture.

What is the difference between ethanol and methanol?
Both ethanol and methanol are alcohols. Ethanol is fermented alcohol, also used as beverage alcohol, made primarily from grain but may also be made from various sources such as starch or sugar from potatoes, cheese whey, sugar cane, or even from the cellulose in plant material or waste paper. Methanol is usually made from natural gas or coal, and is also known as "wood alcohol". Methanol is highly corrosive, more volatile than ethanol, highly toxic, should not be consumed by humans or animals, and can be damaging to plastic and rubber fuel system components (elastomers).