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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bio-oils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #325088

Research Project: Value-added Bio-oil Products and Processes

Location: Bio-oils Research

Title: Low-temperature phase behavior of fatty acid methyl esters by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

Author
item Dunn, Robert - Bob

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2016
Publication Date: 5/1/2016
Citation: Dunn, R.O. 2016. Low-temperature phase behavior of fatty acid methyl esters by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) [abstract]. American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting Annual Meeting and Expo. p. 39.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) mixtures have many uses including biodiesel, lubricants, metal-working fluids, surfactants, polymers, coatings, green solvents and phase-change materials. The physical properties of a FAME mixture depends on the fatty acid concentration (FAC) profile. Some products have high concentrations of saturated FAME and other components with high melting points that can crystallize at moderate temperatures. Liquid-solid (L-S) phase transitions, both melting and crystallization, can be efficiently analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). This paper evaluates the use of DSC to measure onset, peak maximum, and offset temperatures and enthalpies of fusion of pure FAME. Furthermore, the subsequent use of the DSC data in thermodynamic models to determine crystallization onset and other phase transition temperatures that take place in FAME mixtures is discussed. Finally, the limitations of DSC analysis of FAME mixtures, such as supercooling and polymorphism, are explored.