Fuel Properties of High Oleic Pennycress Oil Derived Biodiesel and Its Blends With Ultra‐Low Sulfur Diesel

ABSTRACT Field Pennycress is an emerging crop for nonedible seed oil. In the Midwestern United States, it can be employed as a cover crop between corn and soybean seasons. This makes it an attractive feedstock for producing biodiesel without interfering with commodity food crops. Classical mutagenesis has been applied to develop different varieties of pennycress with desirable properties for biodiesel. In this study, we evaluated the fuel properties of biodiesel produced from the seed oil of a new pennycress variety, high oleic pennycress (HOP). The oil was converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and analyzed according to the ASTM standard for biodiesel. HOP biodiesel exhibited cold flow properties superior to those of biodiesel derived from other pennycress varieties and vegetable oils, with cloud point, pour point, and cold filter plug points of −19.7°C, −21°C, and −15.7°C respectively. The oxidative stability of the biodiesel was poor, with an induction period at 110°C of 0.46 h, indicating that additives would be needed for commercial use. Kinematic viscosity at 40°C was 4.113 mm 2 s −1 , meeting both the ASTM and EN biodiesel standard. The biodiesel had an average wear scar of 188 μm, demonstrating good lubrication properties. The efficacy of HOP biodiesel as an additive for ultra‐low sulfur diesel was also evaluated. Loadings of 2% and 5% biodiesel were effective in terms of improving lubricity while maintaining sufficient oxidative stability. This work demonstrates the potential of HOP as a valuable wintertime oil seed crop for producing biodiesel in the Midwestern United States.