The thermal cracking of canola and soybean methyl esters: Improvement of cold flow properties

作者：Seames Wayne^*; Luo Yan; Ahmed Irshad; Aulich Ted; Kubatova Alena; Stavova Jana; Kozliak Evguenii

来源：Biomass and Bioenergy, 2010, 34(7): 939-946.

DOI：10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.02.001

• Thermal cracking
• Soy methyl ester
• Canola methyl ester
• Biodiesel
• Soybean (Glycine max)
• Canola (Brassica napus)
• Plackett-Burman design
• Hydrogen

A study was performed to evaluate the use of thermal cracking to overcome cold flow and stability limitations of current biodiesel. Experiments were conducted in a batch cracking reactor system using soy methyl ester and canola methyl ester feedstocks. The amount of high-MW C(16)-C(24) FAMEs was reduced from nearly 100% in the original feedstock by an order of magnitude. Yields of desirable cracking product ranged from 70 to 85% while cloud and pour points decreased around 20 degrees C and 15 degrees C, respectively. The stability of the fuel was improved by converting all of the unsaturated esters into lower-MW saturated esters. This method may lead to an attractive process to produce an improved biodiesel that is more conductive to cold temperature utilization and more stable during storage.

• 出版日期2010-7