Application Note

Infrared Spectroscopy differences

between biodiesel prepared from
rapeseed and the edible rapeseed oil
Identification of Ester and especial FAME in different oils
European agriculture produces a lot of plants
containing oil which will be used for
commercial purposes. For the food market
the rapeseed oil is used as salad oil or as
main part of margarine.
Actual the rapeseed oil is also a discussion
point for the biodiesel aspects.
The quality of such biofuel and the blends of
it are controlled by the Biodiesel regulation.
One aspect of the control is the FAME (Fatty
acid methyl ester) contents.
Biodiesel like rapeseed oil is rich on fat
molecules which are treated in a
transesterification process to contain a variety
of esters. The transesterification is necessary

because motors cannot run with the natural

rapeseed oil which is too viscose.
In the figure1 the chemical treatment is
shown in a short graph. The huge molecule of
a tri-glycerol is cracked into the glycerine
molecule and diverse FAME.
To visualize the change of the natural product
the FTIR Spectroscopy was investigated to
show the effect of the transesterification on
infrared spectra of an edible rapeseed oil and
a biodiesel prepared from rapeseed. The
difference should be visible regards
triglycerides and the FAME as shown in
figure 2A and 2B

435.91

584.43

844.82
815.89

912.33
881.47

1016.49

1060.85

0.1

1244.09

1120.64
1095.57

0.075

1357.89

Abs
Abs

1301.95

1458.18
1435.04

0.15
0.2

721.38

1195.87
1168.8

Fig. 1: Transesterification of tri-glycerides to FAME

0
3000

2500

2000

1750

1500

1250

1000

750

500
1/cm

1500
1350
Rapeseed biodiesel

1200

1050

900

750

600

450
1/cm

482.20
451.34

584.43

721.38
810.10

914.26

867.97
850.61

964.41

1029.99

0.075

0.1

1236.37

1458.18

Abs
Abs

1415.75
1377.17
1363.67
1350.17

0.15
0.2

1118.71
1095.57

4500 4000 3500

Rapeseed biodiesel

0
4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1750 1500 1250 1000
100% rape oil- 99g fat-(6saturated fatty acid - 64 single unsat - 29 multiple unsat)

750

500
1/cm

1500
1350
1200
1050
900
750
600
100% rape oil- 99g fat-(6saturated fatty acid - 64 single unsat - 29 multiple unsat)

450
1/cm

Fig. 2: Typical infrared absorbance spectra of pure rape oil (black) and a pure biodiesel (green) in A, visible are the differences in
region at 1600 to 400 cm-1 in B.

SCA_110_035

www.shimadzu.de

the methyl ester group with its deformation

vibration. The next visible transformation is in
the ester control signal area approx. 1200 cm-1.
The strong, broad signal at 1159 cm-1 in
edible oil will separate into two concrete
signals at 1168 and 1195 cm-1. The
averaging of the energy over the triple ester
group of the triglycerides is gone. Same
happens to signal at 961 cm-1 which is the
CH2 wagging frequence (a deformation
vibration of the RO-CO- group).
Sample preparation
Instead of the classical infrared transmission
cell the single reflection technique was used
for the measurements of the infrared spectra.
One drop of the oil was placed on the
measurement window, measured and later
removed simply with a tissue and cleaning of
remaining parts with a drop of solvent.
System will be ready for measurement of next
sample within one minute.

Table 1: Discussion of infrared spectra based on rape seed oil comparison of methyl ester and triclycerol ester

Edible Rape oil

Vibration [cm-1]

Biodiesel based
on rapeseed
Remark

584.43
721.38
914.26
964.41
1029.99
1095.57
1118.71
1159.22
1236.37
1415.75
1458.18
1743.65
2852.72
2922.16
3007.02

Vibration [cm-1]

Basic oil
Remark

584.43
-CH2 rocking
-OH (oop)
-CH2 wagging in
RCOCO-

(1137 shoulder)
average of signals
C-CO-O-

C=O Ester
-CH2
-CH2
-CH

721.38
912.33
1016.49
1060.85
1095.57
1120.64
1168.86
1195.87
1244.09
1435.04
1458.18
1741.72
2852.72
2922.16
3007.02

Instrumentation:
IRPrestige-21 with IRsolution Software
DuraSampllR with KRS-5 crystal
Penetration into sample surface: approx. 2 m
Sample preparation time: 30 sec.
Measurement technique: single reflection ATR

Shimadzu Europa GmbH

Albert-Hahn-Str.6-10, 47269 Duisburg

www.shimadzu.de

Vibration [cm-1]
584.43

-CH2 rocking
-OH (oop)

721.38

-O-CH2-C
1095.57

C-O
C-CO-O(CO)-O-CH3
1458.18
C=O Ester
-CH2
-CH2
-CH

2852.72
2922.16
3007.02

The given specifications serve purely as technical information for the user.
No guarantee is given on technical specification of the described product and/or procedures.

The peak analysis of both spectra shows

significant differences. The differences are
effected by the ester groups. The change
from ester groups to concrete methyl ester
has the strongest impact in the infrared
spectrum. All aspects regards the carbonyl
groups are visible. These are inductive and
mesomeric effects which needed more or
less strong energy to get the special group
into vibration. The ester group we are talking
about is in common described as R1-C(OR)=O
in edible oils and as R1-C(OCH3)=O in biodiesel.
R1 represents long chains of hydrocarbons.
Additional chains representing Palmitic,
Stearic, Oleic and Linoleic acid are visible in
both spectra with the -CH2 hydro carbon part.
Signal groups belonging to the vibrations are
visible and fixed in both (table1). But all
groups regards the CH2-O- are reduced and
new signals are visible belonging to CH3-Ovibrations in the biodiesel. The most influence
as result from transesterification is to see in
the new signal at 1435 cm-1 which is definitely