Preliminary compositional analysis of biodiesel particulate matter

FUEL 8

Ming Chai1, Aisha Tzillah1, and Mingming Lu, mingming.lu@uc.edu2. (1) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of CIncinnati, CIncinnati, 45221, (2) Civil and Environmental Eng, Univ. of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221
Preliminary compositional analysis was performed for the biodiesel fuel and biodiesel particulate matter (BPM) generated from the use of B50 (50% biodiesel). It was found that two types of analytical columns are required: a column (DB-FFAP) for polar compounds such as the methyl ester fractions, and another column (DB5-ms) for the hydrocarbons of the regular diesel PM. The analytical method developed to separate the methyl esters was capable of reproducing the data provided by the vendor. In the BPM, methyl esters (the fuel fraction) constitute 35% to 45% of the total mass, dependent on the load. This is an indication that the biodiesel might not be well burnt in the diesel engine. The PAH fraction of the B50 is more than 50 % less than that of the petro-diesel, and the quantity of the heavier PAHs are much lower. This may correspond to the less toxicity reported from other studies.