Improving biodiesel cold flow properties using bio-based depressant / Nur Muhammad Afifi Bin Zainal

Project paper (Bachelor of Chemical Engineering) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang – 2009

Biodiesel has been one of emerging alternative fuel and in stead of high demand in world consumption; technology on biodiesel still not achieved its optimum especially on producing high quality biodiesel. Pure biodiesel hardly to be applied in cold weather climate, this is due to it cold flow properties; cloud point and pour point properties is higher compared to petrodiesel. This study is focusing into lowering the cold flow properties of biodiesel by using alkyl oleate derivative mixed with ethanol. The cloud point, pour point and the kinematic viscosity are the parameter of this study. It was tested on the Cloud Point/Pour Point Test and Viscometer Test. The volume percent ratio of alkyl oleate derivative and ethanol added to biodiesel was manipulated. The result indicates that the addition of alkyl oleate derivative or ethanol in biodiesel has improved the cloud point and pour point of biodiesel. When both alkyl oleate and ethanol were mixed and added to biodiesel, better improvement shows in cloud point and pour point. The addition of ethanol in biodiesel helps to lowering kinematic viscosity of biodiesel however the additions of alkyl oleate derivative increase the kinematic viscosity of biodiesel. When mixed both alkyl oleate derivative and ethanol into biodiesel, the result shows the biodiesel kinematic viscosity is decreasing. Overall result indicates that addition of alkyl oleate and ethanol with the specific proportions in biodiesel has a high potential to be bio-based depressant.