Biodiesel - Adaptation to diesel fuel by metathesis

Researchers from TU Kaiserslautern and Ruhr-University Bochum have succeeded in adapting the boiling curve of biodiesel to diesel fuel by means of a metathesis reaction. This generates a biofuel that is very similar to fossil diesel fuel. Biodiesel boils at very high temperatures and in a narrow temperature range, which makes it possible for it to evaporate incompletely (late post-injection) and accumulate in the motor oil. The adaptation avoids this phenomenon. The idea of ​​lowering the boiling curve by metathesis was already pursued in 2013 by the researchers around Prof. Munack (Thünen Institute) and Prof. Krahl (TAC) and provided excellent results. Due to the low mineral oil price and the relatively high catalyst costs, the use of the process is currently not profitable, but it shows the possibility of adapting biodiesel to current and future challenges.

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