Crystallization Status of Palm Oil Biodiesel under Low Temperature Environment

The composition of palm methyl ester (PME) was determined and quantified by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Cold flow properties of PME was studied by means of cold filter plugging point tester and kinematic viscosity tester and the solution crystallization theory, at the same time to observe the crystalline mechanism with low temperature phase contrast microscope. Experimental results showed that PME was mainly composed of saturated fatty acid methyl ester (SFAME) and unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester (UFAME), PME has a poor cold flow properties because of its more SFAME content. Observation results of the microscope showed that, the crystallization of PME at a steady cooling rate was lamellar crystal for rules. With the reduction of temperature, lamellar crystal increased gradually, and aggregated together. The higher the cooling rate was, the smaller the lamellar crystal and the irregular shape was.