Author
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Knothe, Gerhard |
Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Biodiesel, an alternative diesel fuel derived from vegetable oil and animal fats, is obtained by reacting the oil or fat with an alcohol (transesterification) to give the corresponding mono-alkyl esters. Gas chromatography (GC) is currently the preferred analytical method for biodiesel and is applied in biodiesel standards. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy using a fiber-optic probe is an alternative to the GC method. NIR spectra of vegetable oils and their methyl esters show differences in some spectral regions which can be used for quantitation. The NIR method is significantly faster and easier to use than GC and requires only minimal maintenance. The progress of the transesterification reaction can be monitored with excellent results and inductive statements on the quality of a biodiesel fuel are possible. |