I have just completed washing a sixty litre batch which looks pretty good but a 27/3 test tells me I still haven't got a handle on the process.
The alcohol is perfectly clear but there is three or four match head size globules of oil in it.
Should I re-process the batch and if so, would I need to wash it again?
I think my problem relates to not draining enough by-product after the reaction because of the shape of my reactor. I will now be using KOH instead of NaOh because I understand it will run more freely.
I presume that allowing for a little vapourisation I should be recovering pretty close to the amount of methanol I use.
Any comments please?
Drover.

3/27 test is not a check on seperation. It is a check on completion of reaction, or complete conversion.

If you do re process a batch it will require washing again. Personally I would not bother re processing.

You will recover up to about 25% of your methanol. You can not recover almost all you added. Remember the methanol replaces the glyc at the end of each Fatty Acid chain, so some of it has to stay chemically combined to form the bio.

Thanks Qwarla for your very sensible reply, I am ever so slowly beginning to understand what happens during the separation process.
Too old to consider a career in chemistry though!
Drover.