Improving the Low-temperature Properties and Filterability of Biodiesel

• Main Authors: V. Plata, V. Kafarov, E. Castillo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2012-09-01
• Series: Chemical Engineering Transactions
• Online Access: https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/7204

In the last few years, biodiesel has emerged as a promising alternative to the traditional petrodiesel. Two features have been limited its more widespread use: its relative poor low-temperature properties (LTP) and recently the excessive sedimentation above its cloud point (CP). In the first part of this work, factors affecting LTP along with the main aspects of the most commonly techniques performed to influence the fatty acid composition of the biodiesel are reviewed, as well as their consequences on the fuel properties. The use of additives to enhance LTP is also summarized. Attempts to identify the nature of the sediments formed in the biodiesel are reviewed in the second part of this work. Efforts to examine the influence of feedstock, temperature, biodiesel blend level and concentration of minor components on precipitate formation and filterability of biodiesel are also summarized, along with some techniques to improve filterability and perspectives about their feasible implementation.