Formula, molecular weight and properties of fatty acids and their methyl esters.

Fatty acid
Methyl ester

Formula Acronym Molecular Melting point Cetane

weight
[C]
number

Palmitic acid
Methyl palmitate

C16H32O2 C16:0
C17H34O2

256.4
270.5

63-64
30.5

--74.5

Stearic acid
Methyl stearate

C18H36O2 C18:0
C19H38O2

184.5
198.5

70
39

--86.9

Oleic acid
Methyl oleate

C18H34O2 C18:1
C19H36O2

282.5
296.5

16
-20

--47.2-55

Linoleic acid
Methyl linoleate

C18H32O2 C18:2
C19H34O2

280.5
294.5

-5
-35

--28.5-42.2

Linolenic acid
Methyl linolenate

C18H30O2 C18:3
C19H32O2

278.4
292.5

-11
-52/-57

--20.6-22.7

American and European specifications for pure biodiesel (B100) prior to use or
blending with diesel fuel.
Property
Acid Number
Calcium and magnesium
Carbon residue
Cetane number
Cloud point
Cold soak filterability
Copper strip corrosion
Density
Distillation - Atmospheric
equivalent temperature
90% recovery
Flash point
Glycerin Free
Monoglyceride
Diglyceride
Triglyceride
Glycerin Total
Iodine value
Kinematic viscosity - 40C
Linolenic acid methyl ester
Methanol content
Oxidation stability
Phosphorus content
Polyunsaturated (>4 double
bonds) methyl esters
Sodium and potassium
Sulfated ash
Sulfur (S15)
Sulfur (S500)
Total contamination
Viscosity 40C
Water content
Water and sediment

ASTM D 6751-08
limit
maximum 50
5
maximum 0.050
minimum 47
report
maximum 360
maximum 3
---

DIN EN 14214
limit
maximum 50
--maximum 0.3
minimum 51
report
maximum 360
Class 1
860 - 900

Unit
mgKOH/g
ppm
wt%
No.
C
sec
No./Rating
Kg m3 -1

maximum 360

---

minimum 130
maximum 0.020
------maximum 0.240
--1.9 6.0
--maximum 0.20
minimum 3
10
---

minimum 101
maximum 0.02
maximum 0.80
maximum 0.20
maximum 0.20
maximum 0.25
120
1.9 6.0
12
maximum 0.20
minimum 6
10
maximum 1.00

C
wt%
wt%
wt%
wt%
wt%
unit
mm2 sec-1
wt%
wt%
hours
ppm
wt%

maximum 5
maximum 0.02
maximum 15.0
maximum 500
------maximum 0.050

maximum 5
maximum 0.02
----maximum 24.0
3.50 5.00
maximum 500
maximum 0.050

ppm
wt%
ppm
ppm
ppm
mm2
ppm
Vol.%