Abstract
The low-temperature properties of mono-alkyl esters derived from tallow and recycled greases were determined for neat esters and 20% ester blends in No. 2 low-sulfur diesel fuel. Properties studied included cloud point, pour point, cold filter plugging point, low-temperature flow test, crystallization onset temperature, and kinematic viscosity. Compositional properties of the alkyl esters determined included water, residual free fatty acids, and free glycerol content. In general, the secondary alkyl esters of tallow showed significantly improved cold-temperature properties over the normal tallow alkyl ester derivatives. The low-temperature flow test did not show a 1:1 correlation with cloud point as previously observed with methyl soyate and methyl tallowate. For the homologous series methyl to n-butyl tallowate, ethyl tallowate had the best broad-spectrum low-temperature properties, both neat and when blended in diesel fuel. For the greases studied, both the normal and branched alkyl ester derivatives showed improved properties over corresponding tallow esters, especially with neat esters.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Samson, W.D., C.G. Vidrine, and W.D. Robbins, Chinese Tallow Seed as a Diesel Fuel Extender, Transact. ASAE 28(5):1407 (1995).
Pryde, E.H., Vegetable Oils as Fuel Alternatives, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 61:1609–1610 (1984).
Ryan, T.W. III, L.G. Dodge, and T.J. Callahan, The Effects of Vegetable Oil Properties on Injection and Combustion in Two Diesel Engines, Ibid.:1611–1619 (1984).
Ziejewski, M., K.R. Kaufman, A.W. Schwab, and E.H. Pryde, Diesel Engine Evaluation of a Nonionic Sunflower Oil-Aqueous Ethanol Microemulsion, Ibid.:1620–1626 (1984).
Clark, S.J., L. Wagner, M.D. Schrock, and P.G. Piennaar. Methyl and Ethyl Soybean Esters as Renewable Fuels for Diesel, Ibid.:1632–1637 (1984).
Ali, Y., M.A. Hanna, and S.L. Cuppert, Fuel Properties of Tallow and Soybean Oil Esters, Ibid.:1557–1564 (1995).
Natusch, D.F.S., D.W. Richardson, and R.J. Joyce, Methyl Esters of Tallow as Diesel Extender, Proceedings, VI International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels Technology Conference, 2-340-346, 21–25 May 1984, Ottawa, Canada.
Richardson, D.W., R.J. Joyce, T.A. Lister, and D.F.S. Natusch, Methyl Esters of Tallow as a Diesel Component, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Energy from Biomass, edited by W. Palz, J. Coombs, and D.O. Hall, 1985, pp. 736–743.
Ali, Y., M.A. Hanna, and L.I., Leviticus, Emissions and Power Characteristics of Diesel Engines on Methyl Soyate and Diesel Fuel Blends, Bioresources Tech. 52:185–195 (1995).
Laforgia, D., and V. Ardito, Biodiesel Fueled IDI Engine: Performances, Emissions, and Heat Release Investigation, Ibid.:53–59 (1995).
Sii, H.S., H. Masjuki, and A.M. Zaki, Dynamometer Evaluation and Engine Wear Characteristics of Palm Oil Diesel Emulsions, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 70:905–909 (1995).
Sims, R.E.H., Tallow Esters as an Alternative Diesel Fuel, Trans. of ASAE, 28 (3):717 (1985).
Ali, Y., and M.A. Hanna, Physical Properties of Tallow Ester and Diesel Fuel Blends, Bioresources Tech. 47:131–134 (1994).
Dunn, R.O., M.W. Shockley, and M.O. Bagby, Improving the Low-Temperature Properties of Alternative Diesel Fuels: Vegetable Oil-Derived Methyl Esters, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. (in press).
Dunn, R.O., and M.O. Bagby, Low-Temperature Properties of Triglyceride-Based Diesel Fuels: Transesterified Methyl Esters and Petroleum Middle Distillate/Ester Blends, Ibid.:895–904 (1995).
Lee, I., L.A. Johnson, and E.G. Hammond, Use of Branched-Chain Esters to Reduce the Crystallization Temperature of Biodiesel, Ibid.:1115–1160 (1995).
Ali, Y., and M.A. Hanna, Alternative Diesel Fuels from Vegetable Oils, Bioresources Tech. 50:153–163 (1994).
Nelson, L.A., T.A. Foglia, and W.N. Marmer, Lipase-Catalyzed Production of Biodiesel, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 73:1191–1195 (1996).
Knothe, G., R.O. Dunn, and M.O. Bagby, Technical Aspects of Biodiesel Standards, INFORM 7:827–829 (1996).
Mittelbach, M., Diesel Fuel Derived from Vegetable Oils, V [1]: Gas Chromatographic Determination of Free Glycerol in Transesterfied Vegetable Oils, Chromatographia 37:623–626 (1993).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Foglia, T.A., Nelson, L.A., Dunn, R.O. et al. Low-temperature properties of alkyl esters of tallow and grease. J Amer Oil Chem Soc 74, 951–955 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-997-0010-7
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-997-0010-7