Steamboy
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Posts: 12
Registered: 24-1-2017
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Strange result from a glycerol and soap production trying
I was trying to make glycerol.
For this, I decided to use the classical soap method (mix water with NaOH and vegetable oil), but with an extra addition of salt (NaCl) for increase
the efficency of glycerol production and avoid soap solidification.
However I obtained an strange result, the liquids that I created are three layers, instead of only the two: soap, and the water with glycerol and
salt.
Description of liquids:
The most light layer seems a kind of oil, yellow and insoluble to water. However this "oil" is unable to react with caustic soda again.
What is this? I will do a test of flammability, but I don't think this might be biodiesel or something so... At least, this method is supposed to not
be valid for create biodiesel, or shouldn't be.
The second layer, white and viscous, seems to be soap, but is very fluid.
And the third layer is soluble in water and has an sweet "alcoholic smell"... possibly this is the glycerol and salt dissolution that I want to
create.
Can someone help me?
[Edited on 1-2-2017 by Steamboy]
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Dr.Bob
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Posts: 2699
Registered: 26-1-2011
Location: USA - NC
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If no methanol was added, then there is no biodiesel. I would guess that you have failed to complete the reaction, likely by not following a real
prep, so you still have veg oil on top, then soap in the middle, then some glycerol/water on the bottom. There are many preps for both soap and
biodiesel, both of which provide glycerol, so find one and follow it carefully. I've managed to make biodiesel, so it can't be too hard.
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