This application note describes the EN-14103 method for determining the total fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and linolenic acid methyl ester content in biodiesel.
This document details a gas chromatography (GC) method for analyzing biodiesel to verify compliance with EN-14214 specifications. The method uses an Agilent Select Biodiesel for FAME column to determine the ester content (greater than 90%) and linolenic acid content (between 1% and 15%).
The note provides specific instrument conditions, including the column dimensions, injection parameters, carrier gas settings, and oven/detector temperatures. It includes calculation equations for ester and linolenic acid content based on peak areas and presents results demonstrating the method's repeatability and accuracy against standard limits.
| Column | Agilent Select Biodiesel for FAME, 0.32 mm x 30 m, 0.25 ym |
|---|---|
| Injector Temperature | 250 °C |
| Oven Temperature | 210 °C isothermal |
| Detector Temperature | 250 °C |
| Carrier Gas | Helium, 12 psi (83 kPa) |
| Injection Volume | 1 pL |
This method is used to determine ester and linolenic acid methyl ester content according to the EN-14103 standard.
The specifications require an ester content greater than 90% (m/m) and a linolenic acid content between 1% (m/m) and 15% (m/m).
The ester content is calculated using the total peak area from FAME C16 to C24, the peak area of the internal standard (methylheptadecanoate), and the mass of the sample.