Hydroprocessed rapeseed oil as a source of hydrocarbon-based biodiesel

This paper deals with the hydroprocessing of rapeseed oil representing a perspective technological way for production of biocomponents in diesel fuel range. Rapeseed oil was hydroprocessed at various temperatures (260-340 degrees C) under a pressure of 7 MPa in a laboratory flow reactor. Three Ni-Mo/alumina hydrorefining catalysts were used. Reaction products were analyzed using several gas-chromatographic methods. Reaction products contained water, hydrogen-rich gas and organic liquid product (OLP). The main components of OLP were identified as C-17 and C-18 n-alkanes and i-alkanes. At a low reaction temperature, OLP contained also free fatty acids and triglycerides. At reaction temperatures higher than 310 degrees C, OLP contained only hydrocarbons of the same nature as hydrocarbons present in diesel fuel. Influence of reaction temperature and catalyst on the composition of reaction products is discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.