Page 5 - Shimadzu Renewable Fuels Industry

Biodiesel Quality Control (FTIR)

When vegetable oil is used as the fuel for diesel cars, use of the raw fats and oils directly as the fuel causes engine problems due
to high viscosity and the occurrence of deposits. Therefore, the raw fats and oils are normally converted to fatty acid methyl esters
(FAME) for use as automotive fuel in an ester replacement reaction. The figure below shows overlaid spectra of FAME (derived
from copra oil) and petroleum diesel measured using a horizontal ATR attachment. In the FAME spectrum, absorption due to the
ester carbonyl group is clearly evident in the vicinity of 1750 cm . Because this absorption is absent in the diesel oil, this peak can
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be used for quantitation of FAME in diesel oil.
Shimadzu IRAffinity-1S FTIR
Spectrophotometer Features

Airtight Interferometer
In the IRAffinity-1S, the interferometer is airtight and
incorporates a unique internal auto dryer.
Dynamic Light source
Through the incorporation of a high-energy ceramic light
source, a temperature-controlled, high-sensitivity DLATGS
detector, a high-throughput optical element, and the
optimization of the electrical system and optical system, the IRAffinity-1S achieves an
outstanding S/N ratio.

Versatile FTIR
Despite its compact design, it offers full functionality for all FTIR techniques, including
transmission, diffuse reflection, and attenuated total reflection (ATR). The full-sized
sample compartment accommodates a wide variety of accessories to meet a diverse
range of application requirements.

Abs

FAME

Diesel oil

4000 3600 3200 2800 2400 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 1/cm

Infrared Spectra of FAME and Petroleum Diesel Measured with a Horizontal ATR Attachment

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