1. Product Work Log
NameJake MeisnerDate April 19, 2012
ProductBiodiesel
Date/Time: Activity: Comment/Suggestions:
January 8, 2012 Researched biodiesel supplies and
recipes for the fuel.
2 hours
Commentary:I looked at several
websites and called several alternative
energy stores for supplies like
methanol, sodium hydroxide, and
potassium hydroxide. I also decided on
my recipe based on the comments and
recommendations of those in a
biodiesel chat room.
January 21, 2012 Purchased Supplies from Duda Diesel,
a web-based supplier.
1 hour
Commentary:I bought 4-one liter
bottles of .995% methanol, five pounds
of both sodium hydroxide and
potassium hydroxide. My uncle, Mark
Suddeth, introduced me to this
website. He had limited experience
with this site based on his experience
working with chemical engineers.
March 4, 2012
2 hours Obtained lab equipment form Mr.
Denis and my Uncle Mark.
Commentary: Mr. Denis loaned me a 1-
liter beaker and several plastic
containers in order to hold the crude

2. biodiesel.
March 6, 2012 I made my first two batches of
biodiesel.
4.5 hours
Commentary: In these batches, I used
potassium hydroxide to create one
batch and sodium hydroxide to create
the other. The sodium hydroxide batch
appeared to be more viscous and it
appeared to have less sediment than
the potassium hydroxide batch, so I
decided to continue with the sodium
hydroxide.
March 31, 2012 Made 4 liters of biodiesel.
7 hours Commentary: I made 5 different
batches. When making the first batch, I
used an industrial mixer to blend the
oil and the methanol-hydroxide
mixtures. To make the procedure seem
more practical, I used an electric stirrer
appliance to mix the last four batches. I
then stored these 4 batches into a
plastic container.
April 2, 2012 After I allowed the biodiesel and the
glycerin to separate for 54 hours, I
.5 hours siphoned the biodiesel into another
plastic container
Commentary: I allowed the diesel to
separate for too long causing the
glycerin to solidify at the bottom of the
container. This solid clogged the drain
that was attached to the original plastic
container, and I had to use a siphon to
then separate the two substances.

3. April 10, 2012 Washed biodiesel with the help of Mr.
1 hour Denis.
Commentary: I water-washed my
biodiesel in order to improve the
quality of the fuel. Mr. Denis and I
transferred the fuel into 1 liter chemical
containers and washed them. We then
allowed them to settle overnight.
April 11, 2012 Washed diesel for a second time.
1 hour Commentary: In order to further
improve the quality of the fuel, Mr.
Denis recommended that I wash the
fuel a second time.
April 13, 2012 Made video of lawnmower starting
.5 hours with biodiesel.
Commentary: I made a 50/50 bend
with my biodiesel and petroleum
based fuel.