Impact of fatty acid methyl ester upon cold flow properties for biodiesel
1. School of Automohile and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Food Sci ence and Safety, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan Univcrsitv Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; 3. School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu Univcrsity, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
Abstract：Impact of composition upon the cold flow properties for biodiesel was investigated with gas chromatography-mass and cold filter plugging point tester based on the theories of molecular structure and crystal growth. Biodiesel may be considered a pseudobinary mixture consisting of components, with high- melting-point saturated fatty acid methyl esters and with low-mehing-point unsaturated ones. The results show that biodiesel is mainly composed of saturated fatty acid methyl esters（ C14：0 - C24：0 ） and unsaturated ones（C16：1 -C22：1, C18：2 and C18：3 ）. The cold flow properties for biodiesel are determined mainly by saturated fatty acid methyl esters. Long-straight-chain saturated fatty acid methyl ester tends to have rela- tively poor cold flow properties. Controlling saturated fatty acid methyl ester contents can improve cold flow properties of biodiesel.
2010, Vol. 31 
