Study of linseed oil, its biodiesel and xylene as flow improver for Nigerian waxy crude oils

Abstract

In this study, the physicochemical properties of linseed and linseed biofuel were studied and their effect on the flow properties of Nigerian waxy crude oil at different volume fractions was investigated. The Nigerian wax crude oil was characterized for its specific gravity, API gravity, wax content, pour point and cloud point. The properties of the linseed oil and linseed biodiesel investigated include: density, specific gravity, viscosity, pour point, cloud point and flash point. Upon esterification of the free fatty acid (FFA) contained in the linseed oil reduced from 3.5 to 0.75 and the viscosity of the seed oil reduces from 2169 to 362 mm2/s. The linseed oil and its biodiesel exhibited similar trend of reduced viscosity at higher shear rate, however, linseed biodiesel demonstrated the lowest viscosities, cloud points and pour points owing to reduced fatty contents. The effect of the linseed oil and its biodiesel on the pour point and cloud point of the waxy crude oil was determined; and the performance compared to that of xylene. A rapid drop in the pour point and cloud point was observed with the wax crude pre-heated with 0.1 v/v linseed oil, its biodiesel and xylene.