Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207451

Title: Fuel and physical properties of biodiesel components

Author
item Knothe, Gerhard

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2007
Publication Date: 2/1/2008
Citation: Knothe, G.H. 2008. Fuel and physical properties of biodiesel components. In: Nag, A., editor. Biofuels Refining and Performance. Chapter 5. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. p. 149-164.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biodiesel is an alternative diesel fuel derived from vegetable oils, animal fats or used oils. Specifically, biodiesel is the methyl or other alkyl esters of these oils or fats. Biodiesel also contains minor components such as free fatty acids and acylglycerols. Important fuel properties of biodiesel that are determined by the nature of its major and minor components include ignition quality and exhaust emissions, cold flow, oxidative stability, viscosity and lubricity. A summary is given in this chapter of how the major and minor components of biodiesel influence these properties.