Soybean Oil Methyl Ester Research Articles

A Comparison of Effects of Ambient Pressure on the Atomization Performance of Soybean Oil Methyl Ester and Dimethyl Ether Sprays

The purpose of this study is the experimental investigation of Soybean oil Methyl Ester (SME) and DiMethyl Ether (DME) spray characteristics injected through the common-rail injection system under various ambient pressures. A high pressure chamber that can be pressurized up to 4 MPa was utilized for a change of ambient pressure. In order to compare the spray development and atomization characteristics, the images of SME and DME were obtained by using a high speed camera with two metal halide lamps under various ambient pressures in the spray chamber. From these spray images, the spray characteristics such as the spray penetration from the nozzle tip, maximum radial distance, and spray diameter were measured and analyzed. In addition, the Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) of two fuels under ambient pressure was analyzed using the droplet measuring system. It was revealed that the axial distance of spray from the nozzle tip of the SME spray is longer than that of DME spray under same injection condition. The axial penetration, maximum radial distance, and spray diameter decreased when the ambient pressure in the chamber increased. As the ambient pressure increased, the SMD decreased and the DME spray showed a superior atomization performance compared to the SME spray.

Physicochemical characterization of dilute n-alcohol/biodiesel mixtures by inverse gas chromatography

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) has been used to determine the physicochemical parameters that characterize solution thermodynamic interactions in biodiesel–n-alcohol solute systems. Such data is of value to chemical engineers and separation scientists in optimizing separation processes to separate alcoholic solutes at low concentrations in soybean oil methyl ester mixtures (biodiesel). The derived activity and Henry's Law coefficient data can be used to rationalize the interaction of four members of an n-alcoholic homologous series and the soya-based methyl ester solvent in terms of such esters as “green” renewable solvents. Sorption isotherm data confirm linear behavior in most cases between the solute (alcohol) vapor state concentrations and their uptake into the biodiesel phase. Overall, the experimentally determined activity coefficients agree well with those predicted by solution thermodynamic theories as well as correlative chemical engineering equations.

Enzymatic epoxidation of soybean oil methyl esters in the presence of free fatty acids

AbstractEpoxides of soybean oil methyl esters (SMEs) are biodegradable, non‐toxic, and renewable epoxy plasticizers. The objective of the present work was to investigate the effects of free fatty acids on the enzymatic epoxidation of SMEs. The results showed that the epoxidation of SMEs depended on the type of the added free fatty acid. For saturated (≤C18:0) and monounsaturated free fatty acids, the epoxy oxygen group content (EOC) of SMEs increased with increasing carbon chain length of free fatty acids; for branched‐chain unsaturated free fatty acids, the EOC of SMEs decreased in the presence of hydroxyl group (OH) and hydroperoxide (OOH) of free fatty acids; the EOC of SMEs decreased with increasing number of double bonds of free fatty acids. The maximum EOC and the initial epoxidization rate (V0) linearly decreased with increasing peroxide value of SMEs. The highest EOC (6.87 ± 0.3%) of SMEs was obtained using behenic acid as reaction material, which was similar with that of stearic acid (EOC 6.75 ± 0.2%).

Toward greener separations of rare earths: Bifunctional ionic liquid extractants in biodiesel

AbstractIonic liquids (ILs) containing quaternary phosphonium cations and phosphonic acid anions were explored as novel extractants for rare earths (RE) separation. They were considered to be bifunctional ionic liquid extractants (bif‐ILEs), since both cations and anions of ILs were involved in the extraction. Trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis 2,4,4‐trimethylpentylphosphinate (Cyphos IL 104), as a bif‐ILE, together with propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and soybean oil methyl ester (SBME, biodiesel) as diluents was employed in the extraction of RE(III) from aqueous solutions. Acidified Cyphos IL 104 (HNO3‐Cyphos IL 104) exhibited high solubility in three diluents, and higher extraction efficiency than bis(2,4,4‐trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) because of the coextraction of RE(III) by quaternary phosphonium cation and phosphonic acid anion in organic phase. Additionally, this coextraction mechanism could eliminate the loss of IL. The physical properties and miscibility test results indicated that SBME was an excellent solvent for RE(III) extraction. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010

Hydrocarbon emission fingerprints from contemporary vehicle/engine technologies with conventional and new fuels

The present paper presents results from the analysis of 29 individual C 2–C 9 hydrocarbons (HCs) specified in the European Commission Ozone Directive. The 29 HCs are measured in exhaust from common, contemporary vehicle/engine/fuel technologies for which very little or no data is available in the literature. The obtained HC emission fingerprints are compared with fingerprints deriving from technologies that are being phased out in Europe. Based on the total of 138 emission tests, thirteen type-specific fingerprints are extracted (Mean ± SD percentage contributions from individual HCs to the total mass of the 29 HCs), essential for receptor modelling source apportionment. The different types represent exhaust from Euro3 and Euro4 light-duty (LD) diesel and petrol-vehicles, Euro3 heavy-duty (HD) diesel exhaust, and exhaust from 2-stroke preEuro, Euro1 and Euro2 mopeds. The fuels comprise liquefied petroleum gas, petrol/ethanol blends (0–85% ethanol), and mineral diesel in various blends (0–100%) with fatty acid methyl esters, rapeseed methyl esters palm oil methyl esters, soybean oil methyl or sunflower oil methyl esters. Type-specific tracer compounds (markers) are identified for the various vehicle/engine/fuel technologies. An important finding is an insignificant effect on the HC fingerprints of varying the test driving cycle, indicating that combining HC fingerprints from different emission studies for receptor modelling purposes would be a robust approach. The obtained results are discussed in the context of atmospheric ozone formation and health implications from emissions (mg km −1 for LD and mopeds and mg kW h −1 for HD, all normalised to fuel consumption: mg dm −3 fuel) of the harmful HCs, benzene and 1,3-butadiene. Another important finding is a strong linear correlation of the regulated “total” hydrocarbon emissions (tot-HC) with the ozone formation potential of the 29 HCs (ΣPO 3 = (1.66 ± 0.04) × tot-RH; r 2 = 0.93). Tot-HC is routinely monitored in emission control laboratories, whereas C 2–C 9 are not. The revealed strong correlations broadens the usability of data from vehicle emission control laboratories and facilitates the comparison of the ozone formation potential of HCs in exhaust from of old and new vehicle/engine/fuel technologies.

Biodiesel production from waste melon seeds and using it as alternative fuel in direct injection diesel engine

<title/>Melon seeds containing ∼30% oil are wasted after the fruit is consumed. The chemical and physical properties of melon seed oil are very similar to vegetable oils used as biodiesel fuel. There are no studies regarding the use of melon seed oil or its esters as fuel in literature. In this study, oil was extracted from waste melon seeds and transformed to melon seed oil methyl ester (MSOME) by transesterification process. This fuel is used in a four stroke single cylinder direct injection diesel engine, and its effects on performance and emissions were investigated for various engine speeds at full load. In addition, diesel fuel no. 2 and soy bean oil methyl ester (SOME) is used as fuel under the same operating conditions for comparison purposes. According to the experiment results, specific fuel consumption is found to be more in both biodiesel fuels compared to diesel fuel, and the engine torque is 1-6% lower with MSOME and 3-5% with SOME compared to diesel fuel. Exhaust gas temperature is lower with MSOME and SOME than with diesel fuel. Furthermore, it is found that CO and HC emissions and smoke density are generally lower in both biodiesel fuels. However, NOx emission is slightly higher for SOME and MSOME than that for diesel fuel.

Coriander seed oil methyl esters as biodiesel fuel: Unique fatty acid composition and excellent oxidative stability☆

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) seed oil methyl esters were prepared and evaluated as an alternative biodiesel fuel and contained an unusual fatty acid hitherto unreported as the principle component in biodiesel fuels: petroselinic (6Z-octadecenoic; 68.5 wt%) acid. Most of the remaining fatty acid profile consisted of common 18 carbon constituents such as linoleic (9Z,12Z-octadeca-dienoic; 13.0 wt%), oleic (9Z-octadecenoic; 7.6 wt%) and stearic (octadecanoic; 3.1 wt%) acids. A standard transesterification procedure with methanol and sodium methoxide catalyst was used to provide C. sativum oil methyl esters (CSME). Acid-catalyzed pretreatment was necessary beforehand to reduce the acid value of the oil from 2.66 to 0.47 mg g−1. The derived cetane number, kinematic viscosity, and oxidative stability (Rancimat method) of CSME was 53.3, 4.21 mm2 s−1 (40 °C), and 14.6 h (110 °C). The cold filter plugging and pour points were −15 °C and −19 °C, respectively. Other properties such as acid value, free and total glycerol content, iodine value, as well as sulfur and phosphorous contents were acceptable according to the biodiesel standards ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. Also reported are lubricity, heat of combustion, and Gardner color, along with a comparison of CSME to soybean oil methyl esters (SME). CSME exhibited higher oxidative stability, superior low temperature properties, and lower iodine value than SME. In summary, CSME has excellent fuel properties as a result of its unique fatty acid composition.

Exergy analysis of engines fuelled with biodiesel from high oleic soybeans based on experimental values

This study dealt with energy and exergy analyses of a John Deere 4045T diesel engine run with no. 2 diesel fuel, Soybean oil Methyl Ester (SME) and High-Oleic soybean oil Methyl Ester (HOME) at 1400 1/min. It was aimed at determining energy and exergy efficiencies, energy losses and exergy destructions of the combustion process and comparing exergetically the fuels used. The specific exergy of the fuels was calculated to be efuel,No.2 Diesel > efuel,HOME > efuel,SME, while energy (thermal) and exergy efficiencies were 40.5% and 37.8%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the fuels based on the Tukey method.

E221 バイオディーゼルを用いた廃ポリスチレンの選択的溶解と燃料特性(OS-10:バイオマスエネルギー(II))

This paper describes that selective liquefaction characteristics of polystyrene in waste plastics and fuel characteristics of biodiesel fuel, BDF, liquefied polystyrene as diesel fuel. In experiment, expanded polystyrene, EPS and polystyrene paper, PSP were liquefied in soybean oil methyl ester. As the result, it was found that the kinematic viscosity of liquid increases with an increase of PS concentration in BDF. It was clarified that the increase of kinematic viscosity of BDF liquefied PS was due to molecular weight of PS. The self-ignition quality is decrease with an increase of PS concentration in BDF. The BDF with EPS concentration of 2 mass % is little change as compared with neat BDF.

Performance prediction of a CI engine using artificial neural network for various SME and diesel fuel blends

This study deals with predicting performance parameters and exhaust emissions of a four-stroke, four-cylinder, direct injection diesel engine fuelled with soybean oil methyl ester and its blends with jet fuel, marine fuel and No. 2 diesel fuel using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach. For this aim, an ANN model for the engine was developed using experimental data, and the performance of the ANN predictions was measured by comparing them with the experimental results. It was revealed that the ANN approach can accurately predict the performance parameters and exhaust emissions of the diesel engine using various diesel and biodiesel fuels.

Biodiesel from meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba L.) seed oil: oxidative stability and unusual fatty acid composition

Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba L.) seed oil methyl esters (MFME), prepared by a standard transesterification procedure using methanol and sodium methoxide catalyst from refined meadowfoam oil (MFO), were evaluated as a potential biodiesel fuel. MFME contains the unusual 5(Z)-eicosenoate (64.2 wt%) and 5(Z),13(Z)-docosadienoate (18.9 wt%). The cetane number of MFME, 66.9, is among the highest ever reported for a biodiesel fuel. In addition, MFME exhibited exceptionally high oxidative stability of 41.5 h by the Rancimat method. Kinematic viscosity was determined as 6.18 mm2 s−1. The cloud, cold filter plugging and pour points of MFME were determined as −6, −9, and −10 °C, respectively. Blending MFME with soybean oil methyl esters (SME) provided kinematic viscosity and oxidative stability values within ranges specified in ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. Other properties such as acid value, free and total glycerol content, as well as sulfur and phosphorus contents were below limits specified in ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. Also reported are lubricity, heat of combustion, and Gardner color. For sake of comparison of some fuel properties, MFME was also prepared from crude meadowfoam oil. The most conspicuous difference in fuel properties was the even greater oxidative stability of 71.6 h by the Rancimat method of MFME from crude MFO. Addition of MFME (from refined MFO) to petrodiesel improved lubricity of ultra-low sulfur petrodiesel while not adversely affecting oxidative stability and low temperature operability. In summary, MFME has unusual fuel properties as a result of its unique fatty acid composition and appears to be a satisfactory blend component for SME and petrodiesel.

Preparation and fuel properties of mixtures of soybean oil methyl and ethyl esters

Soybean oil was transesterified using various mixtures of methanol and ethanol at a constant molar ratio of alcohol to oil of 12:1 in the presence of 1 wt% potassium hydroxide catalyst at 30 °C for 60 min. The effect of mixtures of methanol and ethanol on percentage yields and fuel properties of soybean oil methyl and ethyl esters (SME/SEE) was studied. The formation of methyl esters was faster in comparison to ethyl esters, as evidenced by a molar ratio of methyl to ethyl esters of 1.7:1 in the case of a 1:1 mixture of methanol and ethanol. High yields (94.6–97.9%) were obtained for all molar ratios of reactants studied. The resultant SME/SEE mixtures prepared from a methanol to ethanol molar ratio of 1:2 or greater exhibited enhanced low temperature properties and oxidative stability, as well as superior lubricity in comparison to neat SME. All other ratios that contained a higher percentage of methanol displayed similar behavior to pure SME. These results indicate that the fuel properties of soybean oil-based biodiesel can be improved by substituting a portion of the methanol reagent with ethanol during transesterification, albeit at higher production cost as a result of the higher price of ethanol versus methanol.

Preparation and Evaluation of Jojoba Oil Methyl Esters as Biodiesel and as a Blend Component in Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel

The jojoba plant (Simmondsia chinensis L.) produces seeds that contain around 50 to 60 wt.% of inedible long-chain wax esters that are suitable as a potential feedstock for biodiesel (BD) production. Jojoba oil methyl esters (JME) were prepared from acid-catalyzed pretreated jojoba oil in order to evaluate important fuel properties of jojoba-based BD, including kinematic viscosity, cloud point (CP), pour point (PP), cold filter plugging point (CFPP), acid value (AV), oxidative stability, and lubricity. A comparison was made with soybean oil methyl esters (SME) and relevant BD fuel standards such as ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. JME was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. The CP, PP, and CFPP of JME were −13°C, −16°C, and −14°C, respectively, which were superior to SME. The kinematic viscosity (40°C) of JME was 6.67 mm2/s, which was higher than observed for SME. Blends (B5 and B20) of JME in ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) were also evaluated for the aforementioned fuel properties and compared to an analogous set of blends of SME in ULSD and relevant petro diesel fuel standards such as ASTM D975 and D7467. JME blends in ULSD displayed improved low-temperature properties in comparison to neat ULSD and blends of SME in ULSD. In summary, jojoba oil has potential as an alternative, nonfood feedstock for BD production.

Comparison of performance and emissions of diesel fuel, rapeseed and soybean oil methyl esters injected at different pressures

Fuel properties of rapeseed oil and soybean oil methyl esters (e.g. density, cetane number and viscosity etc.) are similar to those of the diesel fuel. These methyl esters can be used as diesel engine fuel by mixing withy diesel fuel. In this study a comparison of diesel fuel, the rapeseed oil methyl ester and the soybean oil methyl ester was made from the engine performance and emissions point of view. The tests were carried out with a four-cylinder diesel engine for tree different injection pressures such as 250, 300 and 350 bar with each of these fuels. For the purpose of comparison, tests were also conducted at full load conditions with diesel fuel. As the result, the performance and emission values of rapeseed oil (R) and soybean oil (S) methyl esters were found to be nearly the same with those of diesel fuels (D) when injection pressure was increased to 300 bar.

Performance assessment of an internal combustion engine at varying dead (reference) state temperatures

This study deals with investigating the effect of varying dead state temperatures on exergy efficiency of a high-oleic methyl ester (HOME) fueled internal combustion engine (ICE). This engine is a 4.5L, four-stroke, four-cylinder, turbocharged, 66.5 kW maximum power capacity John Deere 4045T diesel engine run with HOME, which is genetically modified with a high-oleic soybean oil methyl ester. The test speed is 1400 min −1 at a full load. In the analysis, actual operational data obtained from a study conducted by one of the co-authors at Iowa State University, USA are used. Exergy efficiency values at various dead state temperatures are calculated for comparison purposes since these types of engines may be operated under different outdoor air conditions. The results obtained are discussed from the exergetic point of view. It was found that exergetic efficiency increased as dead state temperature decreased. As a result, exergy efficiency values ranged from 29.78% to 34.93% based on dead state temperatures between −5 °C and 30 °C.

Ester-additives as inhibitors of the gelification of soybean oil methyl esters in biodiesel

Biodiesel from soybean oil transesterified with methanol (TSO) becomes viscous and gelifies at low storage temperatures which makes it difficult to pump. To inhibit this behaviour bulky esters were added to reduce the crystallization temperature of TSO and to modify the rate of conversion of crystallized mass. This rate was found to follow a JMAK kinetic model. The Avrami’s parameter n was constant for TSO, while two n values were found for TSO-additive solutions, meaning that the additives first slowed down the rate of nucleation and, later on as enough nuclei had been formed, crystal growth rate dominated and the previous crystallization rate was recovered.

Exhaust emissions and fuel properties of partially hydrogenated soybean oil methyl esters blended with ultra low sulfur diesel fuel

article Important fuel properties and emission characteristics of blends (20 vol.%) of soybean oil methyl esters (SME) and partially hydrogenated SME (PHSME) in ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) were determined and compared with neat ULSD. The following changes were observed for B20 blends of SME and PHSME versus neat ULSD: improved lubricity, higher kinematic viscosity and cetane number, lower sulfur content, and inferior low-temperature properties and oxidative stability. With respect to exhaust emissions, B20 blends of PHSME and SME exhibited lower PM and CO emissions in comparison to those of neat ULSD. The PHSME blend also showed a significant reduction in THC emissions. Both SME and PHSME B20 blends yielded small increases in NOx emissions. The reduction in double bond content of PHSME did not result in a statistically significant difference in NOx emissions versus SME at the B20 blend level. The test engine consumed a greater amount of fuel operating on the SME and PHSME blends than on neat ULSD, but the increase was smaller for the PHSME blend. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Experimental and numerical analysis of spray-atomization characteristics of biodiesel fuel in various fuel and ambient temperatures conditions

The purpose of this work is to reveal the effects of fuel temperatures and ambient gas conditions on the spray-atomization behavior of soybean oil methyl ester (SME) fuel. The spray-atomization behavior was analyzed through spray parameters such as the axial distance from the nozzle tip, local and overall Sauter mean diameter (SMD). These parameters were obtained from a spray visualization system and a droplet measuring system. In addition, the experimental results were compared with the numerical results calculated by the KIVA-3V code. It was revealed that the increase of the fuel temperature (from 300 K to 360 K) little affects the spray liquid tip penetration. The increase of the ambient gas temperature (from 300 K to 450 K) caused a increase in the spray liquid tip penetration. Also, biodiesel fuel evaporation actively occurred due to the increase in the fuel temperature and the ambient gas temperature. Of special significance was that the highest vapor fuel mass concentration was observed at the center region of the spray axis. In the results of the microscopic characteristics, the detected local droplet size at the axial direction and overall droplet size at the axial and radial direction in a control volume increased when the fuel temperature increased. This is believed to be due to an increase in the number of small droplets that quickly evaporated. In addition, the increased fuel temperature caused the decrease of the number of droplets and the increase of the vapor fuel mass. The mean axial velocity of droplets decreased with increasing fuel temperature.

A study on the fuel injection and atomization characteristics of soybean oil methyl ester (SME)

The spray atomization characteristics of an undiluted biodiesel fuel (soybean oil methyl ester, SME) in a diesel engine were investigated and compared with that of diesel fuel (ultra low sulfur diesel, ULSD). The experimental results were compared with numerical results predicted by the KIVA-3V code. The spray characteristics of the spray tip penetration, spray area, spray centroid and injection delay were analyzed using images obtained from a visualization system. The Sauter mean diameter (SMD) was analyzed using a droplet analyzer system to investigate the atomization characteristics. It was found that the peak injection rate increases and advances when the injection pressure increases due to the increase of the initial injection momentum. The injection rate of the SME, which has a higher density than diesel fuel, is higher than that of diesel fuel despite its low injection velocity. The high ambient pressure induces the shortening of spray tip penetration of the SME. Moreover, the predicted spray tip penetration pattern is similar to the pattern observed experimentally. The SMD of the SME decreases along the axial distance. The predicted local and overall SMD distribution patterns of diesel and SME fuels illustrate similar tendencies when compared with the experimental droplet size distribution patterns.

Predicting the temperature dependent viscosity of biodiesel fuels

The purpose of this work was to develop a method for predicting temperature dependent viscosities of biodiesel based on fatty acid ester composition. The Grunberg–Nissan equation combined with a group contribution method was used as the mixing rule to calculate viscosities of mixtures of fatty acid esters. Prediction errors at 25 °C were less than 2.5% for 22 mixtures of fatty acid ethyl esters. Compared with experimentally measured viscosities at 20–100 °C, predicted viscosities of soybean oil and yellow grease methyl esters were within 3%. For coconut, palm and canola oil methyl esters, maximum errors were underestimations at approximately 7%.