Abstract
Formation of excessive sludge and fuel filter clogging were experienced in using biodiesel blends under marine environment. In this study, a field test was conducted in a marine ferry boat fueled by canola-based biodiesel blends. The sludge materials collected in the fuel purifier were characterized using inductively coupled plasma (ICP), pyrolysis-GC/MS (Py-GC/MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Karl-Fischer titration. It was found that the sludge materials consisted of four distinctive fractions: organic materials derived from diesel and canola biodiesel (major fraction), ash (11-14% w/w), water (~17% w/w), and bacteria. The active bacteria were present in the sludge samples. It was suggested that bacterial contamination was one of the major factors in contribution to the sludge formation.
Highlights
Formation of insoluble material in biodiesel blends has drawn great attention as it causes clogging of filters [1]
It was found that the sludge materials consisted of four distinctive fractions: organic materials derived from diesel and canola biodiesel, ash (11% - 14% w/w), water (~17% w/w), and bacteria
This study reports findings from examination and characterization of the sludge material obtained from that pilot test, including results obtained using pyrolysis-GC/MS (Py-GC/MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and Karl Fisher (K-F) titration, as well as presence of microbes and probable polysaccharides in the sludge materials
Summary
Formation of insoluble material in biodiesel blends has drawn great attention as it causes clogging of filters [1]. Fuel additives are typically used to improve the cold flow properties of petro-diesel under extremely low temperature conditions [2]. These additives usually contain copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate or other olefin-ester copolymers. They act by distorting the wax crystal shape and size to inhibit crystal growth, thereby reducing PP temperatures. These additives seem to work in biodiesel blends: one study demonstrated significant reduction of PP and CP for soy biodiesel and its blends with #2 diesel, with ethyl ester additives proving more effective than methyl ester [3]
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