ARS | Publication request: Effect of soybean oil fatty acid composition and selenium application on biodiesel properties

Submitted to: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 2, 2010
Publication Date: February 2, 2011
Citation: Fallen, B.D., Pantalone, V.R., Sams, C.E., Kopsell, D.A., Vaughn, S.F., Moser, B.R. 2011. Effect of soybean oil fatty acid composition and selenium application on biodiesel properties. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 88:1019-1028.

Interpretive Summary: Biodiesel is an alternative fuel prepared from renewable vegetable oils or animal fats, and can be used as a substitute or blend component for conventional petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel possesses significant technical advantages over petrodiesel, including greater lubricity, low sulfur content, superior biodegradability, reduced toxicity, and a reduction in exhaust emissions. Vegetable oils containing principally monounsaturated fatty acids have been found to possess excellent properties for use as biodiesel. In addition, treating biodiesel with antioxidants such as the mineral selenium also increases oxidative stability. In this study we examined several inbred lines containing high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids as well as resistance to the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup®). One inbred line was identified with excellent oil for biodiesel production, and can be used in breeding programs to select for biodiesel cultivars. Foliar treatment of soybean plants with varying amounts of selenium had no effect on subsequent biodiesel oxidative stabilities.

Technical Abstract: Biodiesel consisting of principally monounsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) has been reported to strike the best balance between cold flow properties and oxidative stability, therefore producing a superior fuel. In addition, treating biodiesel with antioxidants such as selenium also increases oxidative stability. Fuel properties including acid value, cloud point, iodine value (IV), pour point, peroxide value, induction period, onset temperature, and kinematic viscosity were used to evaluate several newly developed Roundup Ready® soybean recombinant inbred lines. These inbreds had fatty acid profiles with elevated levels of monounsaturated FAMEs. TN07-93RR was determined as the most desirable inbred for production of biodiesel, based on its fatty acid composition and subsequent fuel properties. The inbred line AG3906 exhibited comparatively high IV and low oxidative stability and was therefore not acceptable under the European biodiesel standard, EN 14214. However, TN07-93RR and AG3906 both were considered satisfactory according to the American biodiesel standard, ASTM D6751. Foliar treatment of soybean plants with varying amounts of selenium had no effect on subsequent biodiesel oxidative stabilities.