Palm oil methyl esters

SFME = sunflower oil methyl esters PME = palm oil methyl esters RME = rapeseed oil methyl esters. See Tables 1.2 and 1.3 for other abbreviations. 

Table 3.2 displays some examples for ternary blends of palm oil, soybean oil and rapeseed oil methyl esters. Under the price conditions given in the table, a typical winter formula would contain SQ-90% rapeseed methyl esters, with the balance mainly soy methyl esters and maybe a few percent of palm methyl esters. In summertime no rapeseed would be used. For Europe 70 to 80% soy methyl esters would combine with palm methyl esters as the balance. For Biodiesel in the U. S., the palm oil methyl ester content would be equally high, making the formula considerably cheaper than pure soy methyl esters. 

Blends of palm oil methyl ester and rapeseed oil methyl ester with diesel fuel (DF) have been realized on a gravimetric basis. Blend ratios were 0, 10, 20, 30 and 100%. 

This section shows how DSC and thermomicroscopy can be used to study the cold flow behavior of two biodiesels (palm oil methyl ester (MEl) and rapeseed oil methyl ester (ME2)) and their blends with a conventional diesel fuel (DF). The impact of a cold flow improver on the quantity and size of crystals is also presented. 

As shown in Table 13.2, the unsaturates present lower melting and crystallization points (temperatures and enthalpies) than saturates. Therefore, it can be assumed that the cold flow parameters will be better (i.e. low CPs and PPs) for the rapeseed oil methyl ester as it contains more unsaturated compounds compared to the palm oil methyl ester. This affirmation is also supported by Knothe [29] who stated that... 

Palm oil methyl ester presents an onset of crystallization above 0 °C (i.e. 6 °C) and a steep crystallization slope (Fig. 13.3a). Thus, its cold flow properties will be poorer than those of the rapeseed methyl ester. The crystallized fractions (CFs) determined at -15 °C for MEl, ME2 and DF are 2.3,1.5 and 25.9%, respectively. These percentages were calculated using the enthalpy of crystallization of DF (210 J/g) obtained elsewhere [9]. The same linear relation obtained for diesel fuels has been used for biodiesel and biodiesel blends ... 

Palm oil methyl ester has a high % of crystals at — 15 C and high CT, PP and CFPP values compared with DF and ME2. This is due to the presence, in high quantity, of saturated fatty esters (no double bonds) which have high melting and crystallization points as shown in Table 13.2. Thus, from these results, we can conclude that MEl... 

The palm oil methyl ester (MEl) and its blends with DF have shown poor cold flow behavior especially for B30 and this can be explained by the fact that this ester naturally contains more saturated fatty acids (38 %) than, for example, ME2 (7 %). These saturated compounds have higher melting and crystallization points. 

A similar study carried out using both palm oil methyl-ester (POME) and JCME with a DI engine yielded similar results (Reksowardojo et al., 2006b). 

Methyl Ester-Based Processes. The fatty methyl esters are produced predominantly by the transesterification of fats and oils with methanol in the presence of an alkaline catalyst under very mild reaction conditions.l5a,b They are used in the production of lauric-type (Cl2) alcohols. The short-chain fatty methyl esters (C8-Cl0), produced as by-products via the fractional distillation of crude lauric-type (coconut, palm kernel) methyl esters, are converted to fatty acids via acidic or alkaline hydrolysis (Fig. 36.12). The hydrolysis of short-chain fatty methyl esters by stream splitting or Twitchell-type processes is not very efficient because of unfavorable equilibrium constants.16a,b... 

TABLE 25. Some Properties of Palm, Rapeseed Canola, and Soybean Oil Methyl Esters Compared with Diesel Fuel. 

Methyl palm kernelate Synonyms Palm kernel methyl ester Palm kernel oil methyl ester Formuia RCOOOCH3, R = palm kernel Uses Detergent intermediate agric. solvent lubricants oil components biodiesel fuel Trade Name Synonyms Emery 2255 [Cognis/Chems. Group http //www.cognis-us.com]... 

See Palm kernelamide MIPA Palm kernel oil, hydrogenated. See Hydrogenated palm kernel oil Palm kernel oil methyl ester. See Methyl palm kernelate Palm kernel wax Synonyms Waxes, palm kernel Definition Wax fraction of palm kernel oil Uses Emollient in cosmetics... 

Prior to DSC and thermomicroscopic measurements, gas chromatography analyses were carried out for both palm oil and rapeseed oil methyl esters. 

Synonyms Palm kernel methyl ester Palm kernel oil methyl ester Formula RCOOOCHj, R = palm kernel... 

Synonyms Methyl esters of soybean oil Palm methyl ester SME Soybean oil methyl ester... 

A soap-based powder can be produced in combination with ester sulfonates. Thirty-five percent of a sodium soap mixture (5% lauric acid, 5% myristic acid, 52% palmitic acid, 21% stearic acid, 12% oleic acid, and 5% linoleic acid) is mixed with 15% sodium a-sulfo palm oil fatty acid methyl ester, 3% lauric acid ethoxylate, 5% sodium silicate, 17% sodium carbonate, 20% Na2S04- 10H2O, and 5% water [79]. 

A heavy granular detergent can be produced by mixing a detergent composition with powdered or granular sodium carbonate. A typical detergent comprises 8% sodium a-sulfo hardened palm oil fatty acid methyl ester, 2% di-Na a-sulfopalmitate, 10% Na coconut oil alcohol sulfate, 2% polyethylene... 

For an enzyme-containing detergent the enzyme is added to a detergent composition with esters and disalts of a-sulfo fatty acids. The detergent granular comprises 7 % sodium a-sulfo hardened palm oil fatty acid methyl ester, 5% disodium salt of a-sulfo hardened palm oil fatty acid, 10% sodium a-olefin (C14 18) sulfonate, 10% zeolite, 5% sodium carbonate, 5% water, and 55% sodium sulfate [82]. 

A detergent, imparting better flexibility to cotton cloth is produced by adding 1% sodium a-sulfo hardened tallow fatty acid methyl ester and 9% disodium a-sulfo hardened palm oil fatty acid to a mixture of 5% sodium n-dodecyl-benzenesulfonate, 5% a-C16-olefmsulfonate, 3% dimethyldistearylammonium chloride, 15% zeolite, 10% sodium silicate, 10% sodium carbonate, 2% soap, 35% Na2S04-7H20, and 5% water [84],... 

Biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester (FAME)) production is based on transesterification of vegetable oils and fats through the addition of methanol (or other alcohols) and a catalyst, giving glycerol as a by-product (which can be used for cosmetics, medicines and food). Oil-seed crops include rapeseeds, sunflower seeds, soy beans and palm oil seeds, from which the oil is extracted chemically or mechanically. Biodiesel can be used in 5%-20% blends with conventional diesel, or even in pure form, which requires slight modifications in the vehicle. 

Since FAS can be produced either from vegetable oil based or petrochemical-based fatty alcohol (Fig. 4.9), both types have been evaluated in a life-cycle analysis with a positive overall result for the natural based product. With vegetable-based fatty alcohol sulfate, the analysis starts with the harvesting of the oil fruits (palm kernels or coconuts) and their processing to isolate the desired plant oil. Subsequent transesterification and hydrogenation of the methyl ester intermediates lead to the fatty alcohols, which are finally sulfated to produce the desired product. Based on this analysis the environmental impact of vegetable oil based fatty alcohol sulfate compared with the petrochemical based product is as follows ... 

Biodiesel can be produced from various oilseed-yielding plants like castor, cotton, jatropha, palm, rape, soy, etc. The straight vegetable oils (SVO), which can be derived by physical and chemical treatment (milling/refining), are then converted into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), also known as biodiesel. Similar to ethanol, these routes are established and proven, and their costs depend heavily on two factors ... 

A.S.H. Ong, K. Y. Cheah u. Y.M. Choo, Elaeis 1, 31-51 (1989) . .Oleochemicals from Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil [Production and Uses of Acids, Methyl Esters, Amines, and Alcohols derived from Palm and Palm Kernel Oils, and their Derivatives]". 

Cold properties of biodiesel are highly correlated to the fatty acid composition. Biodiesel with a high content of saturated fatty acids, such as that from palm oil and coconut oil, possesses poor cold flow properties. On the other hand, biodiesel with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids possesses better flow properties at lower temperatures. However, biodiesel from highly unsaturated fatty acids with more than two double bonds has combustion problems. Therefore, in some countries, the content of highly unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters in biodiesel is kept low (5). 

One paper from the group of Zhang reports [75] on the testing of various oils with MT0/H202 with CH3CN as solvent and imidazole as the nitrogen base. A base/MTO/H202/double bond ratio of 50 1 250 100 is used, and excellent results are obtained after 2 h at room temperature. Fatty acid methyl ester, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, and palm oil can all be epoxidized with >99% selectivity and >98% yield with this system. 

SMEs are often based on the methyl ester of coconut oil or palm kernel oil, both of which give a carbon distribution predominantly of Ci2 u. Products based on palm stearine, a lower cost oil with mainly C16 18 carbon chains, are more difficult to process, and additional care is needed to avoid producing a dark coloured surfactant. The sources and processing of oleochemcials used in surfactant manufacture will be discussed in more detail later. 

To obtain substantial yields of surfactant hydrophobes, especially in the most useful C12— 14 range, the choice is restricted to coconut, palm and palm kernel oils. In the C16-18 range, the same oils are also used but animal (normally beef) tallow can be used. The use of animal fats raises some ethical issues but these are not commonly used to produce anionic surfactants. The oils may be converted to methyl esters by transesterification which allows easier distillation to remove heavy/light fractions and the esters are finally hydrogenated to fatty alcohols. Alternatively, the fat or oil can be hydrolysed to fatty acid prior to esterification... 

Loh, S. K., Chew, S. M., and Choo, Y. M. 2006. Oxidative Stability and Storage Behavior of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Derived from Used Palm Oil. I. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 83, 947-952. 

Domestically, methyl esters are made from soybean oil, spent frying oils, and inedible animal fats. Palm oil is used in Southeast Asia, and rapeseed in Europe. Although appreciable in quantity, supplies of such materials actually are small compared with the amount of TAG that would be required if significant quantities of methyl esters were used in fuels. Governmental support of biodiesel development has included funding of research and demonstration projects, and reducing or eliminating state or federal taxes collected for its fuel use. In turn, this funds the amount of methyl esters that can be... 

These grafted strong bases were checked in their both soluble and immobilised form as catalysts for the transesterification of several vegetable oils such as linseed, rapeseed, sunflower and palm oil. When methanol is used, the reaction affords a mixture of the methyl esters, used as fuel for diesel engines21 22 (Figure 13). 

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