Elite Engineer Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 (edited) So, I'm making biodiesel. I try to separate out the newly formed esters from the glycerol and salts by adding water to a test tube, then the biodiesel on top. I VERY gently invert the tube once or twice, and keep getting a emulsion forming. The solution is completely golden yellow and very translucent. Once gently mixed it all becomes a cream color and cloudy. How else can I remove glycerol? I tried ethanol but the esters are pretty miscible in it. Edited August 2, 2015 by Elite Engineer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enthalpy Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Centrifuge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cuthber Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 You might try pouring off the (mainly) diesel layer into a second container and adding salt to it then stirring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Engineer Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 You might try pouring off the (mainly) diesel layer into a second container and adding salt to it then stirring.Do Would NaCl suffice or would ammonium sulfate or magnesium sulfate be necessary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypervalent_iodine Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Would NaCl suffice or would ammonium sulfate or magnesium sulfate be necessary?. A solution of saturated NaCl should work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Engineer Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 . A solution of saturated NaCl should work. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cuthber Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 In my experience, crystaline salt works better. I think the salt grains give the water something heavy to stick to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypervalent_iodine Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 In my experience, crystaline salt works better. I think the salt grains give the water something heavy to stick to I've never tried this myself, but that's a good suggestion (and one I'll definitely remember next time I have a tricky emulsion to get rid of). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cuthber Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Old chemist's trick (passed on to you all by an old(ish) chemist) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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