 |
|
New NIST method accelerates stability testing of soy-based biofuel
January 14, 2009The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a method to accelerate stability testing of biodiesel fuel made from soybeans and also identified additives that enhance stability at high temperatures. The results, described in a new paper,* could help overcome a key barrier to practical use of biofuels.
Both oxidation and heating can cause biodiesel to break down, adversely affecting performance. These two effects usually are analyzed separately, but NIST chemists developed a method to approximate both effects at the same time while also analyzing fluid composition. NIST's "advanced distillation curve" method could accelerate and simplify testing of biodiesels, according to lead author Tom Bruno. NIST researchers used the new method to demonstrate the effectiveness of three additives in reducing oxidation of biodiesel at high temperatures, as would occur in aviation fuels.
Biodiesel-which can be prepared from vegetable oil, animal fats, used cooking oil, or microalgae-is a potential replacement or extender for petroleum-based diesel fuel. Biodiesel offers several advantages, including renewability, the potential for domestic production, biodegradability, and decreased emissions of carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Biodiesel also has several serious disadvantages, including increased nitrogen oxide emissions and chemical instability, especially at higher temperatures.
Antioxidants often are added to vegetable oils to retard oxidation during storage. The NIST work may be the first to enhance stability of biofuel at high temperatures, Bruno said. The study focused on three compounds, THQ, t-decalin and tetralin,** that help neutralize highly reactive "free radicals" formed at temperatures above 300 degrees C. Test results showed that all three compounds stabilized biodiesel. As expected from studies of aviation fuels, THQ and t-decalin perform similarly and outperform tetralin. For solutions containing 1 percent additive, THQ performed best overall.
A distillation curve charts the percentage of a mixture that evaporates as a sample is slowly heated. Because the different components of a complex mixture typically have different boiling points, a distillation curve gives a good measure of the relative amount of each component. NIST chemists enhanced the traditional technique by improving precision and control of temperature measurements and adding the capability to analyze the chemical composition of each boiling fraction.
To adapt the method for unstable fluids such as biodiesels, the authors made repeated distillation curves of samples and quantified the variation in parameters such as temperature for each distillate fraction across the different runs of the experiment. These data were averaged over the entire distillation curve to identify the range of variations that might occur. This range was extended to theoretically model the potential oxidative and thermal decomposition of the samples.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Antioxidants often are added to vegetable oils to retard oxidation during storage. The NIST work may be the first to enhance stability of biofuel at high temperatures, Bruno said. The study focused on three compounds, THQ, t-decalin and tetralin,** that help neutralize highly reactive "free radicals" formed at temperatures above 300 degrees C. Test results showed that all three compounds stabilized biodiesel. As expected from studies of aviation fuels, THQ and t-decalin perform similarly and outperform tetralin. For solutions containing 1 percent additive, THQ performed best overall.
A distillation curve charts the percentage of a mixture that evaporates as a sample is slowly heated. Because the different components of a complex mixture typically have different boiling points, a distillation curve gives a good measure of the relative amount of each component. NIST chemists enhanced the traditional technique by improving precision and control of temperature measurements and adding the capability to analyze the chemical composition of each boiling fraction.
To adapt the method for unstable fluids such as biodiesels, the authors made repeated distillation curves of samples and quantified the variation in parameters such as temperature for each distillate fraction across the different runs of the experiment. These data were averaged over the entire distillation curve to identify the range of variations that might occur. This range was extended to theoretically model the potential oxidative and thermal decomposition of the samples.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Biodiesel Current Events and Biodiesel News RSSUT Knoxville and ORNL researchers turn algae into high-temperature hydrogen source
In the quest to make hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel source, researchers have been stymied about how to create usable hydrogen that is clean and sustainable without relying on an intensive, high-energy process that outweighs the benefits of not using petroleum to power vehicles.
U of Minnesota researchers discover high levels of estrogens in some industrial wastewater
In a groundbreaking study, civil engineering researchers in the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology have discovered that certain industries may be a significant source of plant-based estrogens, called phytoestrogens, in surface water.
'Green' energy from algae
In view of the shortage of petrochemical resources and climate change, development of CO2-neutral sustainable fuels is one of the most urgent challenges of our times.
Biodiesel on the wing: A 'green' process for biodiesel from feather meal
Scientists in Nevada are reporting development of a new and environmentally friendly process for producing biodiesel fuel from "chicken feather meal," made from the 11 billion pounds of poultry industry waste that accumulate annually in the United States alone.
Extreme makeover chemistry style
In revisiting a chemical reaction that's been in the literature for several decades and adding a new wrinkle of their own, researchers with Berkeley Lab and the University of California (UC) Berkeley have discovered a mild and relatively inexpensive procedure for removing oxygen from biomass.
Shatter-resistant brassicas
An international team of scientists has cracked the problem of pod shatter in brassica crops such as oilseed rape.
Microscopic manufacturers produce eco-friendly plastics
Last year's energy crisis highlighted an unforseen by-product of the looming fuel shortages of the 21st century. Petroleum-based products such as plastics that society takes for granted but now requires to function will run out with the oil.
'Green' Plastics Could Help Reduce Carbon Footprint
More than 20 million tons of plastic are placed in U.S. landfills each year. Results from a new University of Missouri study suggest that some of the largely petroleum-based plastic may soon be replaced by a nonpolluting, renewable plastic made from plants.
Trailblazing rural community shows green heating oil a viable option
Local schools and homes in the small Georgian town of Reepham in Norfolk are taking part in the groundbreaking 12-month trial, led by the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Microbes fuel energy debate
Microbes may well be the answer to our global energy crisis. By fermenting biomass to produce biofuels, they offer a possible climate-friendly solution to the anticipated shortfall in fossil fuel supply.
More Biodiesel Current Events and Biodiesel News Articles
 |
Biodiesel Basics and Beyond: A Comprehensive Guide to Production and Use for the Home and Farm by William H. Kemp (Author) Biodiesel Basics and Beyond aims to separate fact from fiction and to educate potential home, farm, and cooperative manufacturers on the economic production of quality biodiesel from both waste and virgin oil feedstock. The book includes: detailed processes and equipment required to produce biodiesel fuel that meets North American standards how farmers can use excess oilseed as a feedstock for biodiesel production the use of the co-byproduct glycerin in the making of soap a guide to numerous reference materials and a list of supplier dataThis is North America’s definitive guide to responsibly producing biodiesel from waste vegetable oil while minimizing your environmental footprint in the process. |
 |
Do It Yourself Guide to Biodiesel: Your Alternative Fuel Solution for Saving Money, Reducing Oil Dependency, and Helping the Planet by Guy Purcella (Author) Containing the most current and complete information available for would-be biodiesel makers, Do-It-Yourself Guide to Biodiesel offers a step-by-step path from the initial desire to do something good for the environment to the final stage of filling the tank with low-cost fuel. As the author tells how to break free from the grip of big oil, he counters the common myths about biodiesel with facts from university studies and his own extensive experience. The many benefits of biodiesel are detailed, including higher lubricity, increased engine life, cleaner burn, less toxicity, and faster biodegrading action. Do-It-Yourself Guide to Biodiesel explains in simple terms the procedures and the equipment needed to make biodiesel at home, in small or large batches. Readers are given a complete... |
 |
Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy, Second Edition by Greg Pahl (Author), Bill McKibben (Foreword) For anyone who is trying to keep up with the extremely rapid developments in the biodiesel industry, the second edition of Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy is an invaluable aid. The breathtaking speed with which biodiesel has gained acceptance in the marketplace in the past few years has been exceeded only by the proliferation of biodiesel production facilities around the United States--and the world--only to confront new social and environmental challenges and criticisms. The international survey of the biodiesel industry has been expanded from 40 to more than 80 countries, reflecting the spectacular growth of the industry around the world. This section also tracks the dramatic shifts in the fortunes of the industry that have taken place in some of these nations. The... |
 |
Building a Successful Biodiesel Business: Technology Considerations, Developing the Business, Analytical Methodologies by Jon Harlan Van Gerpen (Author), Rudy Pruszko (Author), Davis Clements (Author), Brent Shanks (Author) |
 |
Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels: A Do-It-Yourself Manual by Jon Starbuck (Author), Gavin Harper (Author) CONVERT TO BIODIESEL FOR A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY RIDE Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels has everything you need to make the switch from expensive, environment-damaging carbon fuel to cheap (and, in many cases, free), clean fuel for your vehicle. Practical and decidedly apolitical, this unique guide focuses on technical details, parts, and instructions.Inside, you'll find step-by-step instructions accompanied by helpful illustrations for such projects as building and properly using a homemade biodiesel reactor, which enables you to drive you car on vegetable oil purchased at a fraction of the price of gas or even on second-hand oil obtained from restaurants free of charge. Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels also includes a list of international parts... |
 |
How to make biodiesel by Dan, M Carter (Author), Jon Halle (Author) How To Make Biodiesel is a practical guide to how to make diesel fuel from vegetable oil. It covers the environmental benefits of biodiesel, gives a beginners' introduction to the chemistry involved, step by step instructions, and also explains the legal situation for making biodiesel in the UK. |
 |
Fuelmeister II Biodiesel Processor - Model# FM2 by Fuelmeister The Fuelmeister II industrial-grade processor converts new or used vegetable oil into high-grade biodiesel fuel that can run in a standard diesel engine. Don't let fuel prices keep your diesel vehicle penned up in your garage. Make your own fuel for a fraction of the cost at the pump! U.S.A. |
 |
Biodiesel: A Realistic Fuel Alternative for Diesel Engines by Ayhan Demirbas (Author) Environmental and political concerns are generating a growing interest in alternative engine fuels such as biodiesel. Biodiesel is a renewable energy source produced from natural oils and fats, which can be used as a substitute for petroleum diesel without the need for diesel engine modification. In addition to being biodegradable and non-toxic, biodiesel is also essentially free of sulfur and aromatics, producing lower exhaust emissions than conventional gasoline whilst providing similar properties in terms of fuel efficiency. The greatest drawback of using pure vegetable oils as fuels are their high viscosity, although this can be reduced by techniques such as dilution, micro-emulsification, pyrolysis or transesterification. Of these processes, the transesterification of vegetable oil... |
 |
16 Plate Heat Exchanger Coolant/svo/wvo /Biodiesel by omarsales 16 Plate Copper Brazed Heat Exchanger 16 plate copper brazed Heat Exchanger,WVO,SVO Here it is--for less than $100 you can heat your Car's waste oil fuel from 140°F to 180°F before it enters the injection pump! We have been running road tests on this 16-plate heat exchanger and have had great results. Email me and I will send you my notes on my most recent veggie road test. Some of you bought a WVO kit from one of the many kit supplers and some of you just cannot afford $2,000 to $5,000 for a veggie conversion kit. Maybe you only paid $1,500 for the whole car; maybe your uncle passed away and left you his old diesel Mercedes; or maybe your girlfriend/wife/signifant other bought a diesel car at a garage sale and now your job is to convert the damned thing to run on veggie oil. Whatever... |
 |
Biodiesel Power: The Passion, the People, and the Politics of the Next Renewable Fuel by Lyle Estill (Author) Whether we are nearing the end of oil or merely nearing the end of inexpensive oil, it is becoming increasingly clear that we need to find alternative ways to meet our energy needs. Biodiesel is one such alternative-and is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the US economy. Biodiesel in North America is in its infancy. As air quality deteriorates in major centers, governments are scrambling for ways to reduce emissions and are embracing biodiesel in their fleets. Conferences on biodiesel are often "inaugural" as society begins discussing this fuel in earnest. Biodiesel Power is a chronicle of this emerging industry. Lightly touching on the technical aspects of the fuel, its qualities, and specifications, the book is largely about the people and stories of the... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |