Improving biodiesel fuel properties by modifying fatty ester composition

Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum-derived diesel fuel composed of alkyl esters of vegetable oils, animal fats or other feedstocks such as used cooking oils. The fatty acid profile of biodiesel corresponds to that of its feedstock. Most common feedstocks possess fatty acid profiles consisting mainly of five C16 and C18 fatty acids, namely, palmitic (hexadecanoic), stearic (octadecanoic), oleic (9(Z)-octadecenoic), linoleic (9(Z),12(Z)-octadecadienoic) and linolenic (9(Z),12(Z),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic) acids, with the exception of a few oils such as coconut oil, which contains high amounts of saturated acids in the C12–C16 range or others. While in many respects biodiesel possesses advantages or is…