Fatty Acid Methyl Esters; Physical Properties Similar to Those of Conventional Diesel

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) are a type of fatty acid ester that are derived by transesterification of fats with methanol. The molecules in biodiesel are primarily FAME, usually obtained from vegetable oils by transesterification. FAME are used to produce biodiesel and detergents. The most widely accessible biodiesel type in the marine industry is fatty acid methyl esters-based biofuel, which is typically blended with regular marine diesel. Fatty acid methyl esters’ are also used as a thickening & emulsifying agent in the food industry.

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters are also used in the personal care & cosmetics industry. FAME is a generic term for biodiesel derived from renewable sources. They are used to replace/extend mineral diesel and gas oil used to fuel both on-road and off-road vehicles and static engines. One of the reasons for FAME use in biodiesel instead of free fatty acids is to nullify any corrosion that free fatty acids would cause to the metals of engines, production facilities and so forth. Free fatty acids are only mildly acidic, but in time can cause cumulative corrosion unlike their esters.

While some research suggests that FAME’s are a good choice for fuel additives, most studies have not directly addressed this issue. While crude oil is biodegradable fuel, fatty esters are better suited to variety of biofuel applications. The biodegradation rates of fatty acids are much high than those of petroleum diesel or neat oils. Furthermore, the biodegradation of fatty esters are faster and safer than crude oil. In the majority of studies, biodiesel FAME biodegradation occurred more rapidly than petroleum diesel biodegradation.

FAME has physical properties similar to those of conventional diesel. A mixture of different Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) is commonly referred to as biodiesel, which is a renewable alternative fuel. FAME is also non-toxic and biodegradable. There are around 72 FAME biodiesel production facilities located in the United States, and production capacity of these plants is 2.3 billion gallons per year. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in January 2022, U.S. biodiesel production capacity totaled 2.3 billion gal/y.

This in turn is expected to increase the demand for fatty acid methyl esters in the U.S. Moreover, fatty acid methyl esters like methyl soyate, methyl laurate, methyl canolate, and methyl caprylate, among others, are versatile products covering a wide range of product uses including: emulsifiers, lubricants, surfactants, polymers, fuels, solvents, coatings, cleaners, metalworking fluids, and food applications. Fatty acid methyl esters can replace solvents considered to be less environmentally friendly or that pose exposure