Minor Components in Rapeseed and Soy Oils – AGQM

publishes study on steryl glycoside content

Berlin, July 23rd 2010 – The processing and refining steps implemented by oil
mills for the production of rapeseed and soy oils, intended for the production of
Biodiesel, have an impact on the concentration of acylated steryl glycosides
(ASG) and steryl glycosides (SG). These minor components – natural
components of vegetable oils – are suspected to negatively influence the
filterability of Biodiesel.

The increasing proportion of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME, Biodiesel) as blending
component to fossil Diesel fuels has a noticeable impact on the filterability of the
final product. Components like acylated steryl glycosides (ASG) and steryl glycosides
(SG) – which are to be found in FAME made from vegetable oils – were identified to
be one of the main causes.

It was the objective of the study to investigate the typical product quality along the
process chain of the oil mills and to identify technological steps which lead to a
significant reduction of ASG and SG during production and refining.

The study investigated the ASG and SG contents in soy and rapeseed oils from
different processing steps of the vegetable oil production. The samples from those
production steps were converted into Biodiesel; thereafter the ASG and SG contents
in the Biodiesel were determined.

Crude oil from soy beans contains more ASG and SG than crude oil from rapeseed.
During the process both ASG and SG content decrease and so after de-gumming and
bleaching both vegetable oils make well-filterable Biodiesel.

The authors of the study point out that although the Biodiesel process itself leads to a
reduction of ASG and SG already, the effect is too little when it comes to feedstock
carrying a risk, because even low ASG and SG concentrations can cause problems
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concerning the filterability. In case crude oils or partly refined vegetable oils are to be
used for the Biodiesel production, it is recommended to include an additional refining
step in order to safeguard proper product quality.

The study was carried out jointly by AGQM and OVID (Verband der
ölsaatverarbeitenden Industrie in Deutschland e. V. (German association of the oil
crushing industry, Ass.) and it was funded by the American Soybean Association
(ASA). The download of the study is free of charge under www.agqm-biodiesel.de.

editorial contact: Dieter Bockey

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e. V.
(Biodiesel Quality Management Work Group)
Claire-Waldoff-Strasse 7
Berlin, Germany 10117
phone: +49+30+319-04215
email: info@agqm-biodiesel.de