Study of ethylic Babassu biodiesel properties at low temperatures

• Published in: Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry Vol. 106; no. 2; pp. 363 - 367
• Main Authors: Silva, M. C. D., da Silva, L. M., Santos, N. A., Conceição, M. M., Souza, A. G., dos Santos, A. O.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2011; Springer
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Calorimetry; Chemical properties; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diffraction; Energy; Esters; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Inorganic Chemistry; Lipids; Measurement Science and Instrumentation; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; X-rays; X-ray diffraction; Babassu biodiesel; DSC; Cold-flow properties; Differential scanning calorimetry; Monocotyledones; Ethanol; Cold; Temperature effect; Fatty ester; Alcohol; Biofuel; Transesterification; X ray diffraction; Operating conditions; Gas chromatography; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Thermal analysis; Palmae
• ISSN: 1388-6150; 1588-2926; 1572-8943
• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-011-1474-0

Nowadays the growing fuel deficit requires the development of alternative fuel sources. Biodiesel is a good substitute to the conventional diesel because it is quite similar to the fossil fuel in its main characteristics. However, there are some obstacles, as the properties of cold-flow, to the development of a more useful alternative fuel. In this work we use the X-ray diffraction and differential calorimetry scanning to study low temperature properties of ethylic Babassu biodiesel. Our results show that the nucleation of crystals starts below −8 °C and the crystallization temperature does not change significantly when the sample was submitted to a winterization process. The higher concentrations of ethyl esters from saturated fat acid are probably responsible for this characteristic. The X-ray diffraction, combined with DSC measurements, was efficiently employed in the characterization of cold-flow biodiesel properties, showing to be very helpful techniques.