Work

Physical Properties of Hydrocarbon Oils Produced by Botryococcus Braunii: Density, Kinematic Viscosity, Surface Tension, and Distillation Properties

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: In automotive engine combustion, particularly in case of compression ignition in diesel engines, physical properties of the fuel have a direct impact on the spray combustion process. The density, kinematic viscosity, surface tension, and distillation properties of triterpenic hydrocarbons extracted from the BOT-22 strain of Botryococcus braunii (called Bot-oil) were measured, and these properties were compared with those of standard diesel fuel. The density and surface tension of Bot-oil were almost the same as those of the diesel fuel. However, the kinematic viscosity of Bot-oil was 55 to 58 cSt at room temperature, which was 16 times higher than that of the diesel fuel. In addition, the distillation temperature of Bot-oil was approximately 430 °C, which was over 100 °C higher than that of the diesel fuel. To attain the properties required for fuel, a cracking technology for Bot-oil must be established.

Source: Procedia Environmental Sciences

DOI: 10.1016/j.proenv.2012.05.012

Authors: Susumu Nagano, Seiji Yamamoto, Masao Nagakubo, Kinya Atsumi, Makoto M. Watanabe

Institutions: Toyota Central Research and Development Laboratories (Japan), University of Tsukuba

Language: English

Topic: Biodiesel Production and Applications

Subfield: Fuel Technology

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology