Development of low-temperature properties on biodiesel fuel: a review

The use of biodiesel as a diesel fuel alternative is rapidly increasing. An important aspect of applying this alternative is the transportation and application in cold weather. In this article, different kinds of methods and technologies were briefly reviewed to improve the low-temperature properties of biodiesel. The compositions of fatty acids would be effectively changed by choosing available material with high content of unsaturated fatty acids or by reducing saturated fatty acids via winterization process. Branched alcohols can be used to change biodiesel structures that improve the low-temperature properties. As a technically feasible method, there is still a constant demand to search cost-effective raw materials for economic branched alcohols production. In order to enhance the impact of crystal morphology and decrease freezing point, the blending chemical additives and petroleum fuels would be a promising method that have been widely used. Besides, other treatments such as epoxidation, hydroisomerization, and ozonization were also discussed. However, each method applied for improving low-temperature properties of biodiesel should be effective and economical so that the biodiesel would continue to compete with fossil and other renewable fuels for market share. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.