RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 34 (1) March 2022, p. 116-128

THE COLD FLOW PROPERTIES OF PALM BIODIESEL FOR DIESEL BLENDS MANDATE IN MALAYSIA’S HIGHLANDS

NURSYAIRAH JALIL1,2; HARRISON LIK NANG LAU1* and RIFQI IRZUAN ABDUL JALAL2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2021.0027
Received: 21 December 2020   Accepted: 11 March 2021   Published Online: 15 June 2021
ABSTRACT

Greenhouse gas emission from burnt fossil fuels in transportation leads to global warming. Therefore, biodiesel which is believed to help in reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emission has been widely used as renewable energy that will replace diesel fuel. Biodiesel of 7% in diesel or B7 has been accepted worldwide to be the automotive fuel. In the last decade, most countries that implemented biodiesel program have gradually increased its biodiesel blending ratio above 7% for economic and environmental reasons. Malaysia has also announced the implementation of B20 starting January 2020. However, the biodiesel mandate in Malaysia’s highlands was maintained at B7 because of the concern on low temperature vehicle operability. This study focuses on the cold flow properties of the blended diesel fuels and the quality of the palm biodiesel for the national biodiesel program. The monoglycerides and the water content in the biodiesel were evaluated in relation to cold temperature fuel performance. Cloud point (CP) and cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of B7 diesel sold at highlands were found below the lowest ambient temperature recorded at highlands for the past 10 years. Both CP and CFPP of Euro 5 diesel were lower than Euro 2M diesel. A 41-months survey of the monoglycerides and the water contents in the palm biodiesel indicated that the palm biodiesel used in Malaysia’s biodiesel mandate meets both the EN14214:2019 and the Malaysian Standard MS2008:2014 specifications. CP and CFPP of the blended fuels increase with the increase of biodiesel blending ratio. Based on the study, it is anticipated that B20 could be introduced at Malaysia’s highlands without any problem.

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1 Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi,
43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

2 Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France
Institute (UniKL MFI)
Section 14, Jalan Damai, Seksyen 14,
43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

* Corresponding author e-mail: harrison@mpob.gov.my