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Biodiesel is a mixture of esters (usually methyl esters) of fatty acids found in the triglycerides of vegetable oils. The different fatty compounds comprising biodiesel possess different ignition properties. To investigate and potentially improve these properties, the cetane numbers of various fatty acids and esters were determined in a Constant Volume Combustion Apparatus. The cetane numbers range from 20.4 for linolenic acid to 80.1 for butyl stearate. The cetane numbers depend on the number of CH2 groups as well as the number of double bonds and other factors. Various oxygenated compounds were studied for their potential of improving the cetane numbers of fatty compounds. Several potential cetane improvers with ignition delay properties giving calculated cetane numbers over 100 were identified. The effect of these cetane improvers depended on their concentration and also on the fatty material investigated.

Methyl esters from vegetable oils (biodiesel) are very attractive as alternative fuels for combustion in direct injection compression-ignition (diesel) engines. Biodiesel fuels have low-temperature flow properties that limit utilization during cooler weather in moderate temperature climates. Although winterization reduces the cloud point (CP) of methyl soyate from 0 to -2O°C, liquid product yields were relatively low (0.30-0.33 g/g). Winterization of methyl soyate-cold flow improver mixtures decreased CP by -11°C and increased yields to 0.80-0.87 g/g. Winterization of methyl soyate from hexane and isopropanol solvents gave similar results. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses showed that nucleation mechanisms of methyl esters were significantly affected by winterization.