ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of Partially Hydrogenated Methyl Ethers of Soybean Oil

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 14, 2007
Publication Date: November 5, 2007
Citation: Moser, B.R., Haas, M.J., Moser, J.K., Jackson, M.A., Erhan, S.Z., List, G.R. 2007. Evaluation of partially hydrogenated methyl ethers of soybean oil [abstract]. International Congress on Biodiesel. p. 48.

Technical Abstract: Specifications mandating biodiesel quality, most notably in the EU (EN 14214) and the USA (ASTM D 6751), have emerged that influence feedstock choice in the production of biodiesel fuel. For instance, EN 14214 contains a specification for iodine value (IV, 120) that eliminates soybean oil (SBO) as a potential feedstock, as it generally has an IV >120. Therefore, partially hydrogenated SBO methyl esters (PHSME, IV = 116) was evaluated as a potential biodiesel fuel by measuring a number of important fuel parameters, such as oxidation stability, low temperature performance, lubricity, kinematic viscosity, and specific gravity. Compared to soybean oil methyl esters (SME), PHSME exhibited superior oxidative stability and similar specific gravity, but inferior low temperature performance, kinematic viscosity, and lubricity. However, the kinematic viscosity and lubricity of PHSME were still within prescribed US and EU limits. There is no set value for low temperature performance in biodiesel specifications, but PHSME has superior cold flow behavior when compared to other alternative feedstock fuels, such as palm oil, tallow and grease methyl esters. The production of PHSME from refined SBO would increase biodiesel production costs by US$0.04/L (US$0.15/gal) in comparison to SME. In summary, PHSME is within both the EU and American standards for all properties measured in this study and deserves consideration as a potential biodiesel fuel.