I have been really busy as plant season has hit, but now that it died down I'm ready to go back to making my BIO, I have been collecting oil since march even though I haven't had time to make any,but now I can't get a test batch to react, my 6.5 titration looked like i was too much lye, my 7.5 didn't react at all, and my 8.5 looked like the 6.5, and the 9.5 looked like the 7.5???????? this seems to be random, is it maybe b/c my lye was old, or got moisture in it, when I opened the bag, it had a layer of solid lye on top, I busted through this and got lye from underneith, do I need to buy a new bag?

 

I've had the same thing happen to me, it turnes into a cloride and just wont react right.

Through it away and use new. I keep mine in 5 gallon pickel buckets, they have an air tight seal.

 

Mine was in an old cooler, back in my "BIO" shed, what about KOH, if I use it, will it go bad, and if so, do I have to buy 55 gal drums of KOH or does it come in smaller quantities. I think if I do buy lye I'm not going to buy another 50 pound bag, I never could have used it up. At first I ordered 10 pounds through the internet and it was $50, but then I found a 50 pound bag for $25. I think I need a smaller quantity of whatever I get.

 

koh will come in the same weight bag.

 

What about KOH and Lye in liquid form, the chemical company I called said they had both in liquid form, but I had to buy 55 gal drum, which seems like a lot.

 

It can be used, BUT......it's 45 % KOH, and 55% WATER! so it uses a different system.

I have a friend that uses it and likes it, but I'm still not convinced about using it.

I bought a 5 gallon pail of 45% KOH to try but haven't done it yet..................

 

OK, what about granular KOH, does it dissolve better, and does last longer.

 

KOH is less reactive than NAOH.
It should have a longer shelf life.
It will be a little more difficult to dissolve, be patient.

 

I disagree...........KOH disolves much faster than NaOH!

At least mine does

 

I am new getting into making bio in small batches. I too like the idea of saving money on NaOH. The problem being buying in large batches will absorb moisture too fast. I am now looking at a way to take the larger amount of NaOH and packaging it in smaller sizes that are air tight. Still learning here. Just a thought....

 

I will defer to the practical expert.