Improvement of fuel properties of biodiesel with bioadditive ethyl levulinate

Abstract

Biodiesel has poor cold flow properties due to their high saturated fatty acid content. Ethyl levulinate is used as bio-based cold flow improver additive in biodiesel. In this work, both ethyl levulinate and biodiesel were synthesized in the laboratory. Ethyl levulinate was added to the biodiesel at different rates, i.e, 5, 10, 15, 20 (vol %). The effect of ethyl levulinate addition on density, kinematic viscosity, acid value, cloud point and pour point was determined and compared to the EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 specification. Consequently, ethyl levulinate appears acceptable as a cold flow improver for biodiesel fuel.

Keywords

• biodiesel
• cold flow improver
• ethyl levulinate
• fuel bioadditive
• renewable energy
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