natbro11
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Nitrated Biodiesel?
A few weeks ago I tried making some biodiesel by the standard Oil/Alcohol/Hydroxide method. When I was making the solution of alcohol and sodium
hydroxide, I mixed in KNO3 in an equal amount to the NaOH. The reaction proceeded as expected and it produced a layer of dark glycerin and a biodiesel
layer. The biodiesel layer had a strong fruity smell and it gave me a short lasting but painful headache. I'm assuming it is some sort of nitro or
nitrate compound but I don't know for sure.
Does anybody know what reactions may have occurred and what sort of compounds give it these properties?
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unionised
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More likely nitrated ethanol.
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subskune
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I also think what you smelled and gave you a headache was ethyl nitrate.
It is described to be a volatile liquid with pleasant sweet smell (ref. wikipedia). I wonder how it could form since the reaction environment is
alkaline.
[Edited on 10-6-2017 by subskune]
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Boffis
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I can't imagine that the presence of nitrate in the brew would make any difference under such alkaline conditions. A bit of physco-codology going on
here over the headaches.
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alking
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How well was everything mixed up before adding it? Is it possible an 'acidic pocket' formed some ethylnitrate which was able to phase separate before
interacting with the NaOH. thus largely protecting it from hydrolyzing back into EtOH?
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