FUEL PROPERTIES OF TALLOW AND SOYBEAN OIL ESTERS

Fuel properties of beef tallow, soybean oil, their esters, and blends with No. 2 diesel fuel and ethanol were determined. Fuel properties te sted were viscosity, specific gravity, API gravity, distillation range s, calculated cetane index, energy content, flash point, water content , sulfur content, carbon residue, particulate matter, acid value, copp er-strip corrosion test, ash content, melting point, cloud point, and pour point. Cas-chromatographic analyses of tallow, soybean oil, and t heir esters were performed to determine their major constituents. Visc osities of soybean oil and tallow were significantly reduced by esteri fication. Other fuel properties of the esters and their blends with No . 2 diesel fuel and ethanol were similar to the properties of No. 2 di esel fuel.