Flash point of biodiesel/glycerol/alcohol mixtures for safe processing and storage

Mixtures of biodiesel, glycerol, and ethanol/methanol are commonly processed and stored in biodiesel production. In this work, non-ideal models are used to calculate the Flash Points (FPs) of binary and ternary mixtures, using data available from different feedstocks. Despite the fact that biodiesel is considered safer than common diesel fuels, results show a synergistic effect of biodiesel/methanol and biodiesel/ethanol mixtures, resulting in a reduction of the flash point of mixtures to values lower than the ones of pure compounds. Most soluble ternary mixtures were found flammable, the only exception being mixtures with a relatively lower alcohol content (45% mol. ethanol or 42% methanol) at temperature lower than 303 K. Accidental increase in temperature can cause domino effect, due to the higher solubility and the formation of new flammable ternary mixtures.

Automated summary

Mixtures of biodiesel, glycerol, and ethanol/methanol in biodiesel production are analyzed for their flash points using non-ideal models. Results show that biodiesel/methanol and biodiesel/ethanol mixtures have a synergistic effect, reducing the flash point below that of pure compounds. Most soluble ternary mixtures are flammable, except for those with lower alcohol content and temperature below 303 K, indicating the potential danger of accidental temperature increase.