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Physical, Chemical, and Performance Properties of Biodiesel Fuels: A Comparative Study of Lipid-Based Feedstocks

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  • Sergii Boichenko

    (Institute of Energy Safety and Energy Management, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine)

  • Anna Yakovlieva

    (Institute of Energy Safety and Energy Management, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine
    Faculty of Aeronautics, Technical University of Košice, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia)

  • Stepan Zubenko

    (Institute of Energy Safety and Energy Management, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine
    V. Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 02094 Kyiv, Ukraine)

  • Iryna Shkilniuk

    (Institute of Energy Safety and Energy Management, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine)

Abstract

Contemporary climate challenges and energy security issues once again demonstrate that the transition to alternative motor fuels is a key and priority task for ensuring sustainable development in European Union countries, as well as in Ukraine. This review provides a comparative analysis of the physical, chemical, and performance properties of biodiesel fuels derived from 17 lipid-based feedstocks, including vegetable oils, animal fats, food industry waste, and microalgae. This study investigates the influence of fatty acid composition and transesterification alcohol type on key fuel properties, including density, viscosity, cetane number, pour point, heat value, and flash point. The results show that biodiesel fuels with a high content of saturated fatty acids exhibit higher cetane numbers and energy content, while biodiesel fuels with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids possess improved viscosity and cold flow properties. Camelina, rapeseed, and used cooking oil are identified as being particularly promising feedstocks based on their performance and availability in the European and Ukrainian dimensions. These findings are supported by a SWOT analysis and cost–benefit comparison, providing practical insights into the feasibility and scalability of biodiesel production pathways.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergii Boichenko & Anna Yakovlieva & Stepan Zubenko & Iryna Shkilniuk, 2025. "Physical, Chemical, and Performance Properties of Biodiesel Fuels: A Comparative Study of Lipid-Based Feedstocks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-25, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:16:p:4274-:d:1722154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gueye, Seynabou & Karanfil, Fatih & Omgba, Luc Désiré, 2025. "Navigating the energy transition in the EU: Renewables, critical raw materials and emerging vulnerabilities," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
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    4. Gulzar Ahmad & Shahid Imran & Muhammad Farooq & Asad Naeem Shah & Zahid Anwar & Ateekh Ur Rehman & Muhammad Imran, 2023. "Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil Using Extracted Catalyst from Plantain Banana Stem via RSM and ANN Optimization for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.
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