German researchers develop biodiesel production method using lower temperatures

In Germany, researchers from Kaiserslautern, Bochum, and Rostock have developed a method for producing a petroleum diesel-like fuel from conventional biodiesel at low temperatures. The new biofuel fulfills the current EU and US requirements. It can be used undiluted in modern diesel engines or mixed in any ratio with petroleum diesel. The researchers present their work in the prestigious journal Science Advances.

The particular advantage of this new technique is that the researchers are able to precisely adjust the chemical properties of the mixture. This process changes the ignition and combustion properties of the biodiesel. Combustion starts at lower temperatures.