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Submitted to: Commercialization of Biodiesel Producing a Quality Fuel
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Methyl esters from vegetable oils are attractive as alternative fuels and extenders for combustion in direct injection compression ignition (diesel) engines. However, methyl esters tend to have low-temp flow properties that may preclude their employment during periods of cold weather in moderate temp climates. For example, methyl soyate cannot be employed when ambient overnight temp decrease to less than freezing (0 deg C). It has been shown that winterization of methyl soyate can reduce this limit by 10-20 deg C and that this process can be engineered to deliver product yields as high as 87% with respect to starting material. This work examines low temp improving benefits against effects of winterization on overall fuel quality of methyl soyate. Results showed that winterization decreases cloud point (CP), pour point (PP), cold filter plugging point (CFPP), low temp flow test (LTFT) and specific gravity (15.6 deg C). Winterization increases acid value, peroxide value and viscosity (40 deg C) and slightly increases iodine number of methyl soyate. No correlation was found to exist between iodine number and CP; that is, increasing degree of unsaturation of methyl soyate via winterization did not strongly affect iodine number. Finally, analytical techniques were developed to evaluate oxidative stability of methyl soyate at 50 deg C. Results showed that, in contrast to slight increases in iodine number, winterization significantly decreases oxidative stability. |
