Benefits of BioPro Biodiesel Processors - Why you should use the BioPro biodiesel processor to make biodiesel
Benefits of the BioPro Processor
The BioPro processors drastically shorten the learning curve required for making biodiesel. For instance, the BioPro is one of the few processors in its class to employ an esterification reaction along with the regular transesterification. What this means from a practical standpoint, is many oils that would yield soapy glop in other processors can be successfully turned into biodiesel using the BioPro. For typical waste vegetable oil, no titration or other chemical testing is required. When in doubt about a batch of oil, we recommend using our Go/No Go kits; within seconds, you'll know if your oil is useable.
Big Green Button Technology
The BioPro design provides unparalleled automation - no more "second jobs in the garage". Just push the Big Green Button and make fuel. The actual hands on time - all in - to make a batch of fuel is about 30 minutes. This number drops to about 10 minutes if you exclude the time to add all the ingredients to the machine!
Heavy Duty Construction
From the 14 gage stainless steel tanks to the stainless steel mixing propeller, the BioPros are heavy duty. The designs are well thought out, refined through tens of thousands of gallons of testing. All components are high quality and built to handle the jobs they perform.
Versatile
The BioPro is equipped with manual overrides for all of the functions so that advanced users can alter the basic process. The owner’s manual gives guidelines on processing multiple feedstock's or using ethanol instead of methanol, performing two base catalyzed stages, tips for making fuel in cold weather, and much more
High Quality Fuel
The BioPro is capable of making fuel in compliance with ASTM D6751. Its aggressive mixing, and controlled heating facilitate complete reactions far better than systems which use a mixing pump. The triple stage water wash, which includes one coarse spray wash and two turbulent finish washes yields a clean fuel which goes above and beyond the ASTM specifications for removal of free glycerin, residual catalyst, soaps, and other contaminants.
Compact
The BioPro™ processors are totally self contained – no settling tanks, wash tanks, external plumbing, etc. The BioPro 190 is about the size of a typical refrigerator, while the 380 is bit larger than a typical vending machine, and the 150, with 40-gallon capacity, occupies less than 4 square feet.
Rapid Payback
The BioPro™ line of processors can pay for themselves in fuel savings in well under a year! With diesel in excess of $4 a gallon, it can be as quick as three months! Have a look at the Return on Investment for more details.
BioPro Processors do What They Claim
There are many processors that make huge capacity claims based on unrealistic data. Others have all sorts of hidden costs, various add-ons that are needed to actually make biodiesel. All of the information advertised about the BioPros; the process times, the wide range of oils that can be used, the quality of fuel that can be produced – are based on realistic and reasonable operating conditions that a user can actually expect to encounter, not on wishful thinking.
Frequently asked questions
How much hands-on time does it take to make a batch of biodiesel in a BioPro?
Total hands-on time for a BioPro batch is about 30 minutes, and only about 10 minutes if you exclude loading the ingredients. After the oil, methanol and catalysts are added, you press the Big Green Button and the machine runs the reactions, settling, washing and drying automatically.
The one required midpoint task is draining the settled glycerin and starting the wash cycle. There is no need to monitor the machine, turn valves or meter chemicals during the batch.
Why can a BioPro process oils that turn into soap in other biodiesel processors?
A BioPro runs an acid-catalyzed esterification before the standard base-catalyzed transesterification. The acid stage converts free fatty acids, which otherwise react with the base catalyst to form soap, so many oils that would produce a soapy mess in single-stage processors can be made into biodiesel.
This two-stage design also means typical waste vegetable oil needs no titration. For oil of uncertain quality, a Go/No-Go kit shows within seconds whether it is below the 5% FFA limit.
Can a BioPro make biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751?
Yes. A BioPro can produce biodiesel that complies with ASTM D6751, provided the feedstock and chemicals are of sufficient purity. Aggressive propeller mixing and controlled heating drive more complete reactions than systems that rely on a mixing pump.
A three-stage water wash, one coarse spray wash followed by two turbulent washes, removes free glycerin, residual catalyst, soaps and other contaminants, and an evaporative drying cycle removes remaining water. Independent lab testing is the way to confirm a given batch meets the standard.
Can I use ethanol instead of methanol or change the process settings on a BioPro?
Yes. Every BioPro function has a manual override, so experienced users can alter the standard automated process. The owner’s manual provides guidelines for using ethanol instead of methanol, running two base-catalyzed stages, processing multiple feedstocks, and making fuel in cold weather.
New users are best served by the automated mode until they are familiar with the machine, since the preset process is designed for reliable results with typical waste vegetable oil.
How quickly does a BioPro biodiesel processor pay for itself?
A BioPro can typically pay for itself in fuel savings in well under a year, and when diesel prices are above $4 per gallon, payback can be as quick as about three months. Actual payback depends on local diesel prices, how much feedstock oil you can collect and what it costs, and how often you run batches.
Because the machines are self-contained, with no separate settling tanks, wash tanks or external plumbing to buy, there are fewer hidden add-on costs to factor in.
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