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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Experimental Protocol for Biodiesel Production with Isolation of Alkenones as Coproducts from Commercial Isochrysis Algal Biomass
Published on: June 24, 2016
Development and optimization of a method for analyzing biodiesel mixtures with non-aqueous reversed phase liquid
G Di Nicola1, M Pacetti, F Polonara
1Università Politecnica delle Marche, Facoltà di Ingegneria, Dipartimento di Energetica, Via Brecce Bianche, Monte Dago, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
Abstract:
Biodiesel (a mixture of fatty acid esters) is normally analyzed using gas chromatography/flame ionization detection, as specified by the ASTM D6584 and EN14105 standards. This paper proposes a binary gradient method for analyzing biodiesel mixtures using non-aqueous reverse phase HPLC with a UV detector capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the gas chromatographic technique normally used. The new analytical method was developed by means of a statistical sensitivity analysis applied to the main parameters influencing the recording, using the full factorial design method combined with the Yates algorithm and the steepest ascent optimization procedure. The present study shows the influence of the main biodiesel mixture separation analysis parameters. The resulting tool proved valid for analyzing not only biodiesel but also any traces of unreacted oil.
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