Chemical and fuel properties of seventeen vegetable oils

In this study, some chemical and technological properties of oils from 12 crop and 5 kernel samples were determined and compared. Kinematic viscosity, cetane number, carbon residue, sulfur content, ash content, higher heating value, iodine value, saponification value, and fatty acid composition for each oil sample was determined. Palmitic and stearic were 2 of the most common saturated fatty acids, with every vegetable oil containing at least a small amount of each one. Similarly, oleic and linoleic were the most common unsaturated fatty acids. Many of the oils also contained some linolenic acid. Compared to No. 2 diesel fuel, all of the vegetable oils were much more viscous, while viscosities of the methyl esters from the oils were slightly higher than that of No. 2 diesel fuel.