Solid-liquid equilibria under high pressure of pure fatty acid methyl esters

The melting temperature of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) have been measured both at atmospheric pressure by using a mu DSC calorimeter and at high pressure (up to 80 MPa) thanks to a dedicated microscope. The values obtained at atmospheric pressure have been compared with literature data. The influence of the chain structure on the melting temperatures has been discussed, as well as the slopes of the liquid-solid transition curves in the (T, P) diagram. The experimental results have efficiently allowed predicting the solid molar volume and consequently, the difference between the volume in liquid and solid phases has been evaluated. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.