(768h) Diesel Fuel Property Data and Predictions Using Highly-Saturated Bio-Renewable Feedstocks in Diesel Fuel Blends

The use and production of renewable fuels continues to increase globally as a method to both lower net carbon emissions and to reduce consumption of petroleum derived sources.  In the United States, biomass-based fuels will be required to have a production volume of 1.28 billion gallons in 2013. The majority of these gallons will be combusted as biomass blends.   

Many of the renewable feedstocks that have been, and will be potentially blended with petroleum diesel fuel are very high in saturated fats.  Saturated fats are present in high amounts for both biodiesel and renewable diesel feedstocks like animal fat and some vegetal sources.  Saturated components of equivalent chain length present advantages over unsaturated compounds with regards to the flash point, storage stability and energy content of fuels.  However, several properties important to engine performance can be significantly affected when large concentrations of long-chained saturated components are present, specifically cold flow and viscous properties.  High-pressure viscosities up to 131 MPa, cloud point temperatures, and approximate freezing point pressures for blends of petroleum diesel with jatropha, palm, and tallow biodiesels are presented.  Renewable diesel cold flow and viscous properties are predicted.