Rapid screening of biologically modified vegetable oils for fuel performance

A process for the rapid screening of alternative diesel fuel performance wa s applied to analogues of genetically modified vegetable oils and a mixture with no. 2 diesel fuel. The oils examined contained 60 to 80% of low molec ular weight, short-chain, saturated triglycerides compared to the 1 to 2% f ound in traditional vegetable oils. These oils have relatively low viscosit y that is predicted to enhance their performance as alternative diesel fuel s. The screening process utilizes an engine "torque test" sequence that acc elerates the tendency of diesel fuels to coke fuel injectors, a key indicat or of fuel performance. The results of the tests were evaluated using a com puter vision system for the rapid quantification of injector coking. The re sults of the screen were compared to those using no. 2 diesel fuel as a bas eline. Coke deposition from the modified vegetable oil analogues was not fo und to be significantly different than deposition from diesel fuel. Suggest ions are made to guide further modification of vegetable oil biosynthesis f or the production of alternative diesel fuel.