Kinematic viscosity of biodiesel components (fatty acid alkyl esters) and related compounds at low temperatures

Biodiesel, defined as the mono-alkyl esters of vegetable oils and animal fats is, has undergone rapid development and acceptance as an alternative diesel fuel. Kinematic viscosity is one of the fuel properties specified in biodiesel standards, with 40 °C being the temperature at which this property is to be determined and ranges of acceptable kinematic viscosity given. While data on kinematic viscosity of biodiesel and related materials at higher temperatures are available in the literature, this work reports on the kinematic viscosity of biodiesel and a variety of fatty acid alkyl esters at temperatures from 40 °C down to −10 °C in increments of 5 °C using the appropriately modified standard reference method ASTM D445. Investigating the low-temperature properties of biodiesel, including viscosity, of biodiesel and its components is important because of the problems associated with the use of biodiesel under these conditions. Such data may aid in developing biodiesel fuels optimized for fatty ester composition. An index termed here the low-temperature viscosity ratio (LTVR) using data at 0 °C and 40 °C (divide viscosity value at 0 °C by viscosity value at 40 °C) was used to evaluate individual compounds but also mixtures by their low-temperature viscosity behavior. Compounds tested included a variety of saturated, monounsaturated, diunsaturated and triunsaturated fatty esters, methyl ricinoleate, in which the OH group leads to a significant increase in viscosity as well as triolein, as well as some fatty alcohols and alkanes. Esters of oleic acid have the highest viscosity of all biodiesel components that are liquids at low temperatures. The behavior of blends of biodiesel and some fatty esters with a low-sulfur diesel fuel was also investigated.