Fuel properties and nitrogen oxide emission levels of biodiesel produced from animal fats

Abstract

Abstract FAME of lard, beef tallow, and chicken fat were prepared by base‐catalyzed transesterification for use as biodiesel fuels. Selected fuel properties of the neat fat‐derived methyl esters (B100) were determined and found to meet ASTM specifications. The cold‐flow properties, lubricity, and oxidative stability of the B100 fat‐derived fuels also were measured. In general, the cold‐flow properties of the fat‐based fuels were less desirable than those of soy‐based biodiesel, but the lubricity and oxidative stability of the fat‐based biodiesels were comparable to or better than soy‐based biodiesel. Nitrogen oxide (NO x ) emission tests also were conducted with the animal fat‐derived esters and compared with soybean oil biodiesel as 20 vol% blends (B20) in petroleum diesel. The data indicated that the three animal fat‐based B20 fuels had lower NO x emission levels (3.2–6.2%) than did the soy‐based B20 fuel.