Biodiesel Basics and Beyond: A Comprehensive Guide to Production and Use for the Home and Farm

Found it to be full of good information but lacking in the detailed information on building a unit from scratch. Buy plans instead of book if you want to get to the meat quickly.

I thought the summary of this book was a little vague in the product description section, and I was a little worried I wouldn't be getting a book that actually explains how to build your own biodiesel refinery. My fears were for naught though; as it turns out, the author gives detailed schematics and explanations of all the components of his own refinery he himself built, even including pipe coupling sizes. He also includes an entire chapter on how to operate the system. And if you don't have the means (like myself) or ability to build a plant as sophisticated as the author's, he even gives an overview of a much more rudimentary system that someone else built, but by the time one finishes the book, more than likely it will seem better to just save up the extra money and do it the right way.This is a very unbiased book, providing lots of scientific data and tests to support different points the author tries to make in favor and against home brewing biodiesel. I found out everything I was hoping to about building my own biodiesel refinery.

The higher the petroleum costs, and the more 'aware' government and businesses are of environmental issues, the harder it becomes to acquire waste vegetable oil either for direct use or biodiesel production. Your best bet is basically to start a co-op that does the acquisition from all the local restaurants. This isn't something you can really do on an individual basis, not anymore. I went to 4 Chinese restaurants today and they all get PAID for their waste oil (about $0.40/gallon) to a local recycler (who seems to somehow use it for farming purposes). I've also spent several hours researching waste vegetable oil and recyclers in the entire mid-Atlantic region and more and more organizations are professionally acquiring waste cooking oil on a large basis with restaurants in an entire city. If you make the effort, you MAY luck out in getting a few gallons here and there for your personal diesel automobile, but to get it for a larger vehicle (such as a school bus or a tractor as on this book's cover), requires a more formal strategy. Restaurants who already have a working relationship to dispose of their fuel likely end up being PAID rather than paying for their fuel. Only if they pay someone else to pick up the fuel would it make sense. The big problem is that as soon as large corporations get involved in finding 'green' sources of energy (ie converting WVO to biodiesel), then the costs are going to skyrocket and the ability to acquire individually will become impossible unless you're talking somewhere in the boondocks. I love the idea of biodiesel, but as long as we have our excessive thirst for energy, I'm afraid of corporations closing in on the market and making freedom impossible for even the hands-on individual.

Biodiesel: Basics and Beyond is a must read for the microscale or home biodiesel brewer. Kemp explains that making biodiesel is not just mixing a couple of chemicals together, but it is a complex, meticulous process that takes a lot of thought and planing. This book degrades home brewers who don't do there part in keeping the enviorment clean and productive. Bill Kemp has engineered a small biodiesel production facilty on his off grid horse farm in Canada. His system seems to be well engineered when compared to other manufactured biodiesel production systems on the market. Throughout this book, he has many "myth busters". He proves that methanol does not totaly evaporate just by sitting in the sun, but it needs suplimental heat added to it in order to boil the methanol out of the glycrol.I rate this book excelent over all and book that all the manufactures of biodiesel systems sould read.

I teach Chemistry & Physics. i worked as a professional chemist for over a decade. I absolutely love the science of chemical reactions coupled with the promise of renewable resources.In my personal & professional opinion, Bill Kemp is very informed on the topic of biodiesel, from basic chemistry to blunt politics and public perception. This publication has been a great supplement to the material presentation in my classroom. There are a few difficulties in the actual procedures of the production of biodiesel, but Mr Kemp can be forgiven, as he is not a professional chemist.If you are looking for a fundamentally comprehensive presentation of biodiesel, this is the publication that you will want to read and include in your library. Cover to cover it is filled with insights and valuable information.

WOW!!! I've been looking on the web at making fuel for some time and never felt I was getting the whole picture. This is ALL the info you will ever need on the subject. From system setup throught dealing with waste, this book explains it all in laymens terms. It shows that making fuel is not going to be the easyest thing you ever do. In the same breath, it shows that its within reach of us "normal" people. It really a very informative but light read. Not only the process is reviewed, but also the economics and history. Definitly worth the read weither you want to make fuel, or just learn more about the subject.

"How do I make Bio-diesel at home safely and reliably to meet my needs?"lots of good data, pictures and instructions on how to replicate this system which includes on how to modify water heaters for tanks, incorporate pumps and oil filters.yes its not perfect but there is allot of good information in here for the price.

Great info

Great read, easy to understand and use. this one day will be a book we will not just want but need. Enjot.