Leak & spill control is the easy part of biodiesel production
Dear intrepid do-it-yourself biodiesel maker, let New Pig be of help. You carry a heavy load.
I’ve just been reading about all that goes into the journey from fryer to fuel tank when you don’t cut any corners (see partial list of production considerations below). Whew.
Our absorbents can help you quickly clean up spills of the various liquids involved in your process:
- Organic oil (typically vegetable oil)
- Lye
- Methanol
- Glycerin
- Water
- Finished fuel
Use PIG® Universal Absorbent Mat (in pads or rolls) to clean up any of the above, except for glycerin, which is easier to handle with PIG® Heavy Fluids Aborbents.
Below I’ve also added links to other product lines that you might want to check out. That is, assuming you’ve already talked to your accountant, your mechanic, your fire marshal, your insurance agent, perhaps the commander of your state’s national guard …
BIODIESEL PRODUCTION INVOLVES:
- Toxic and caustic chemicals
- Flammable liquids
- State, local and federal safety and environmental regulations
- Diesel engine manufacturers’ warranties
- State and federal fuel taxes
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SOME PIG® PRODUCTS OF INTEREST TO BIODIESEL MAKERS
- PIG® Barrel Top Absorbent Mat
- Corrosive Storage Cabinets
- Dispensers and Measures
- Drum Pumps
- Oil Tank Containment
- Oily Waste Cans
- Personal Safety/PPE
- Poly Funnels
- Safety Cabinets
- Samplers and Testers
- Steel Funnels
- Bulk Storage and Collection Units
- Storage and Handling
- Storage Cabinets
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February 20th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
At New Pig, we value everyone’s safety, and since we’ve been hearing from more and more customers and do-it-yourselfers who are embarking on this adventure, I want to add a quick note on using absorbents with bio-diesel and its components.
Bio-diesel, vegetable-based oils and other components of bio-diesel have a tendency toward spontaneous combustion when mixed with common spill cleanup products, so whether you’re using New Pig absorbents, rags, paper towels, sawdust, clay or chicken feathers, KEEP THE SPENT (liquid soaked) ABSORBENTS IN CLOSED CONTAINERS.
That means sealed drums, containers with tight-sealing lids, ziplock bags with the air squeezed out… There are a lot of options out there.
Keeping the container or bag sealed limits the amount of oxygen reaching the soaked absorbents and helps minimize fire risks.
Whenever possible, store saturated absorbents in areas where they are not likely to create a structure fire, and arrange for prompt disposal through proper channels. Your local solid or hazardous waste authority should be able to offer suitable methods for proper disposal. If not, give Safety Kleen a call.
Note that New Pig mats are made of 100% polypropylene and our Blue PIG® Socks have a polypropylene skin and vermiculite filler. Neither polypropylene nor vermiculite will support combustion. However, that doesn’t mean that absorbing something into them makes the resulting mixture safe.
Absorbents – ours and everyone else’s – take on the properties of the liquids that they absorb, so if you absorb a flammable liquid or one prone to spontaneous combustion into an absorbent, you need to store, handle and dispose of the absorbent with the same precautions as the liquid.
In the case of flammable and combustibles, that means closed containers. New Pig offers open head funnels and latching drum lids that can help facilitate quick, easy handling of wastes stored in steel drums. We also have products to help you safely collect and store liquid wastes. All are designed for ease of use and will help your facility stay cleaner and safer!