How can pure plant oils be used as fuel?
Pure plant oils (PPO, vegetable oil) are received i.a. from peanuts, rapseeds, sunflowers, soy beans and coconuts. Pure plant oils are not only raw materials for biodiesel production, but can also be used in native, unchanged form in specially refitted diesel engines. PPO has specific properties which makes it different from diesel. The use of PPO in combustion engines is possible only after refitting. The viscosity of PPO, particularly at low temperatures, is up to ten times higher than fossil diesel, which leads to technical challenges in winter running and when cold starting in conventional engines. Also the the flashpoint (240 °C) is significantly higher than that of fossil diesel. Vegetable oil is therefore particularly safe in storage and transport, and easy to handle.
