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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 #311464
Title: Fuel properties of heptadecene isomers prepared via tandem isomerization-decarboxylation of oleic acid

Author
item Moser, Bryan
item Doll, Kenneth - Ken
item Murray, Rex
item Knothe, Gerhard

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2014
Publication Date: 5/3/2015
Citation: Moser, B.R., Doll, K.M., Murray, R.E., Knothe, G.H. 2015. Fuel properties of heptadecene isomers prepared via tandem isomerization-decarboxylation of oleic acid [abstract]. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. Abstract No. 61704.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Heptadecene isomers were prepared via tandem isomerization-decarboxylation of oleic acid using catalytic triruthenium dodecacarbonyl [Ru3(CO)12]. Chromatographic and spectroscopic characterization of the isolated heptadecene mixture indicated that it consisted of 96% internal trans isomers and 4% aromatics. Fuel properties such as acid value, cold flow, density, derived cetane number, energy content, kinematic viscosity, lubricity, moisture content, oxidative stability, specific gravity, sulfur content, and surface tension were measured and compared against the petrodiesel standards ASTM D975 and EN 590. Also of interest was a comparison with ultra-low sulfur (<15 ppm S) diesel (ULSD) fuel along with the properties of a 5 vol % blend of the heptadecene isomers in ULSD. The heptadecene mixture yielded higher energy content (47.08 MJ/kg), derived cetane number (86.9), and sulfur content (not detected) than ULSD but inferior low temperature behavior (cloud point -1 deg C), density (791 kg/m3), and oxidative stability (3.4 h; EN 15751). All other fuel properties were similar and within the ranges specified in the petrodiesel standards. In conclusion, from oleic acid, renewable hydrocarbons were readily prepared that yielded fuel properties amenable to their use as an alternative diesel fuel or as a blend component for diesel fuel.