It should come as no surprise that the hemp plant, which is very adaptable, may also be used to produce the energy that our energy-hungry world requires.
In essence, there are two different types of hemp biofuel:
- Hemp-based biodiesel
2.Hemp alcohol
HEMP BIODIESEL INFORMATION:
You undoubtedly already know that certain vehicles don’t use gasoline or electricity; instead, they run on something called “diesel. You may have even observed that many gas pumps at convenience stores provide diesel fuel. Diesel is often used for larger engines, like those in semi-trucks, buses, ships that travel the oceans, construction machinery, railways, and other vehicles. It is less refined than gasoline. However, there are also consumer trucks and automobiles that use diesel.
A blend of vegetable oils and diesel fuel is used to create the alternative fuel known as biodiesel. It is both biodegradable and renewable. Although soybean oil is the primary ingredient in most biodiesel production, other materials such as animal fat, restaurant cooking oil, algae, and—you guessed it—hemp are also capable of being converted into the fuel.
Hemp diesel is created by pressing hemp seeds to extract oil, which may then be combined with regular diesel and directly injected into any diesel engine that is compatible. A pleasant added benefit of using hemp diesel is that a car operating on it will smell like hemp, as opposed to a chemical, sooty stench.
METHOD OF MAKING BIO DIESEL:
TYPICAL METHOD:
Security first: Put on eye protection and protective clothing. This is not a “weekend project” and should not be undertaken lightly. This procedure is just intended as a guide for what experienced biodiesel producers would perform.
ESTIMATE YOUR OIL’S FREE FATTY ACID CONTENT:
To make 2 drops of phenolphthalein solution, combine 1 ml of oil with 10 ml of isopropyl alcohol (available in a hobby shop chemistry set supplier). Drop by drop, gradually add 0.1% lye solution (1 g of lye per litre of water), allowing the solution to remain pink for 10 seconds. 20 drops (1 mL)Note how many millilitres of the 0.1% lye solution were used.
METHANOL:
For every litre of hemp seed oil, 200 ml of methanol are required. Methanol is available as Drigas at most automotive supply stores; check the label to be sure it contains methanol. Methanol is likewise sold in racing supply stores. Methanol (wood alcohol) from hardware stores should be avoided as it may contain too much water.
SUGAR METHOXIDE:
One gramme of granular solid lye is required for every ml of 0.1% lye solution used in the titration of free fatty acids in a litre of hemp seed oil, plus an additional 3.5 grams. Dissolve the appropriate quantity of lye in the methanol completely (Red Devil Lye can be purchased from the grocery store). The result of this combination is sodium methoxide.
The type of mixer used is determined by the batch size. In a 5-gallon bucket, an electric drill and a paint mixer on an extended shaft work well.
TRANSESTERIFICATION:
The oil may be added to the methanol lye mixture while continually mixing once the lye catalyst has completely dissolved, leaving no sediment. As the reaction progresses, the mixture initially gets thicker and subsequently gets thinner. Use an eyedropper to collect samples into a test tube or other transparent container every five minutes. The mixture will separate into a top layer of light biodiesel and a bottom layer of soap, glycerin, and catalyst that is darker. Mix for another 30 to 60 minutes to maintain a steady yield. Then halt blending. Have lunch now. It will have been divided into two distinct levels by the time you return. You succeeded! Give the mixture at least eight hours to settle. The biodiesel top layer should be poured off and saved in a different container. A container with a clear funnel bottom is useful.
Splashing
For long-term engine reliability, the raw biodiesel you just created should be washed with water to remove any catalyst, alcohol, or glycerin that might still be present. Rinse with water, initially gently, then more forcefully, until the rinse water is clear and the pH is the same as the source water. Decant and settle.
DECLINING:
The biodiesel must be properly heated because water makes it hazy. The majority of the water coalesces and sinks at 100 C. Before the container is heated to a higher temperature, the water at the bottom needs to be fully removed.
A violent explosion of hot liquid may result from a failure to remove this water prior to further heating!
Any ratio of this fuel can be combined with petroleum diesel. Dynamometer tests show a completely clean power output with a soot and particle reduction of up to 75%. Burning biodiesel requires no modifications to the engine.
USES OF HEMP:
Hemp is used in countless ways, many of which supporters claim have long-term environmental advantages. One such route to a brighter future is using hemp to produce biofuels, though growers interested in entering this market might need to hold off a little longer.
Harvested hemp plant material is shredded and heated chemically to release cellulose in a procedure known as cellulolysis, according to Pearce. The cellulose is broken down into sugars by enzymes, and then the sugars are fermented to produce ethanol. In the end, the ethanol is refined and purified to create useful biofuels like biodiesel, which may be used to power a biomass power plant or even an engine.
