Influence of soybean biodiesel content on basic properties of biodiesel-diesel blends

The basic properties of the soybean biodiesel-diesel blends were measured according to the corresponding standards, and the influence of biodiesel content on the blends properties was evaluated. The results indicated that, with the increase of the biodiesel content in the blends, the difference between the final and the initial boiling point (IBP) was reduced, the acid number increased, the sulfur content and the cetane index decreased. The cloud point and cold filter plugging point (CFPP) were similar to that of diesel with the volume fraction of biodiesel up to 30%. The peroxide value was slightly increased with the time when the volume fraction of biodiesel was less than 20%, but was increased dramatically when more than 20%. Kay's mixing rule was used for predicting the properties and the low calculated absolute average deviations (AAD) demonstrated that the predicted properties were in better agreement well with the measured values. (C) 2013 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.