Prediction of higher heating values for saturated fatty acids from their physical properties

Higher heating values (HHVs) of fatty acids (C4–C18) were measured and correlated using linear least square regression analysis. Equations were developed for the estimation of the HHVs of saturated fatty acids from their molecular weight (Mw), density (DN) and carbon number (CN). These equations are HHV=0.0518 Mw+29.76, HHV=−93.4 DN+122.67 and HHV=0.7271 CN+31.419 with R2 values of 0.9895, 0.9798, and 0.9895, respectively. The correlations may be used for HHV estimation of mixtures of fatty acids developed from vegetable oils.