Solidification behavior of acylglycerols in fatty acid methyl esters and effects on the cold flow properties of biodiesel

The formation of precipitates in biodiesel (comprising fatty acid methyl esters [FAMEs] obtained from plant oils) can lead to the clogging fuel filters. Such are often caused by solidification acylglycerols (monoacylglycerols [MAGs], diacylglycerols [DAGs], and triacylglycerols [TAGs]) that have higher melting points than FAMEs. Based on our prior study behavior MAG/FAME binary mixtures, present work investigated various DAGs TAGs combined with Differential scanning calorimetry was used clarify effects cold-flow properties biodiesel. When were added FAMEs, liquidus temperatures (above which mixtures completely liquid) increased steeply even at low concentrations. This same observed previously trials MAGs, indicating all readily precipitate combination However, thermodynamic analyses established reasons for such precipitation different compounds. MAGs because they contain two hydroxyl groups therefore a affinity In contrast, as result their high enthalpies fusion (which turn molecular weights), while both factors affect DAGs. A non-solid-solution model assumes eutectic system found accurately predict multicomponent containing