Determination of biodiesel purity through near- and mid-range FTIR spectroscopy

CHED 1078

Patrick M. Knapp, patrick.knapp@loras.edu and Edward Maslowsky Jr. Division of Molecular and Life Sciences, Loras College, 1450 Alta Vista, Lorsas College Box 875, Dubuque, IA 52001
As the United States attempts to reduce its dependency on foreign oil, there is the need to search for alternative types of fuel. One practicable alternative is biodiesel that can be produced from different types of plant oils. The oils are converted to biodiesel though a transesterification reaction involving the use of methanol. Both near- and mid-range FTIR spectroscopy have been used to monitor the transformation of plant oils into the methyl esters of fatty acids through the reaction of these oils with methanol. The spectra were recorded using both transmission and ATR techniques.