Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) are potentially advantageous biodiesel constituents.  However, biodiesel composed of saturated fatty acid alkyl esters (FAAE) have relatively high cloud points (CP), limiting their commercial application. This work systematically evaluates FAEE cloud point and crystallization data to aid in the development of FAEE biodiesel blends with practical cold flow properties. Neat FAEE CP increases with carbon-chain length and decreases with greater degree of unsaturation.  Mixtures of saturated/saturated FAEE show partial cocrystallization, which impact the mixture’s cloud point. The effects of cold-flow improving additives dimethyl azelate (DMA) and triacetin on fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and FAEE are also analyzed. Additives lowered the overall CP, however the degree of depression for each additive varied, indicating different crystallization mechanisms. Thermodynamic ideal solution modeling accurately predicts binary FAEE CP with and without additives within 2% of experimental values.<br/>

Systematic analysis of cloud points and crystallization in fatty acid ethyl ester biodiesel mixtures with and without additives

255th National Meeting (2018)

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