Rapeseed (Brassica napus), also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapaseed (and, in the case of one particular group of cultivars, canola), is a bright-yellow

Rapeseed (Brassica napus), also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapaseed (and, in the case of one particular group of cultivars, canola), is a bright-yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae (mustard or cabbage family). Rapeseed oil is cultivated mainly for its oil-rich seed, the third-largest source of vegetable oil in the world. Rapeseed oil is used as diesel fuel, either as biodiesel, straight in heated fuel systems, or blended with petroleum distillates for powering motor vehicles. Biodiesel may be used in pure form in newer engines without engine damage and is frequently combined with fossil-fuel diesel in ratios varying from 2% to 20% biodiesel. Owing to the costs of growing, crushing, and refining rapeseed biodiesel, rapeseed-derived biodiesel from new oil costs more to produce than standard diesel fuel, so diesel fuels are commonly made from the used oil. Rapeseed oil is the preferred oil stock for biodiesel production in most of Europe, accounting for about 80% of the feedstock, partly because rapeseed produces more oil per unit of land area compared to other oil sources, such as soybeans, but primarily because canola oil has a significantly lower gel point than most other vegetable oils. Rapeseed is currently grown with high levels of nitrogen-containing fertilizers, and the manufacture of these generates N2O. An estimated 3-5% of nitrogen provided as fertilizer for rapeseed is converted to N2O. Free Fatty Acid: 0.1 – 0.15% max Peroxide Value: 1.0 – 2.0 meq/kg max Color (Lovibond): 12.0 – 15.0 Yellow / 1.5 – 2.0 Red Iodine Value (Wijs): 100 - 122 Moisture: 0.05 %max AOM: 20 hrs min Cold Test: 5.5 - 12 hrs min Refractive Index @ 40oC: 1.460 – 1.467 Specific Gravity @ 25oC: 0.914 – 0.920 Saponification Value: 182 – 193 Smoke Point: 460 – 530oF Flash Point: 610 – 640oF Fire Point: 670 – 690oF Fatty Acid Properties