Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising methyl esters derived from vegetable oils having less than about 3% by weight of saturated fatty acid methyl esters and a cloud point of less than about ?30° C. A method for making the lowered cloud point composition is also disclosed in which vegetable derived methyl esters, urea and alcohol are mixed under sufficient heat to form a homogenous mixture. The mixture is then cooled to a temperature where a solid phase and a liquid phase are formed. The solid phase is enriched in saturated fatty acid methyl esters and the liquid phase is enriched in unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters. The solid phase is separated from the liquid phase. Finally, unused urea and methanol are removed from the liquid phase to form a liquid composition having a cloud point of less than about ?30° C. and less than about 3% by weight saturated fatty acid methyl esters.

Abstract: A method for treating a fatty acid methyl ester. The method can include mixing the fatty acid methyl ester with an amount of urea and an amount of alcohol to make (i) a urea/fatty acid methyl ester ratio of from about 0.1:1 to 1:1 wt/wt and (ii) an alcohol/fatty acid methyl ester ratio of from about 3:1 to 10:1 wt/wt; heating the fatty acid methyl ester/urea/alcohol mixture to a temperature at which a homogenous mixture is obtained, cooling the fatty acid methyl ester/urea/alcohol mixture to a temperature where a solid phase comprising a clathrate of urea and saturated fatty acid ester and a liquid phase comprising unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester are formed, and separating the solid phase from the liquid phase. The unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester is useful as a fuel resistant to gel formation at low temperature.

Abstract: A method for treating a fatty acid methyl ester. The method can include mixing the fatty acid methyl ester with an amount of urea and an amount of alcohol to make (i) a urea/fatty acid methyl ester ratio of from about 0 wt/wt to about 1 wt/wt and (ii) an alcohol/fatty acid methyl ester ratio of from about 4 vol/wt to about 8 vol/wt, heating the fatty acid methyl ester/urea/alcohol mixture to a temperature at which a homogenous mixture is obtained, cooling the fatty acid methyl ester/urea/alcohol mixture to a temperature where a solid phase and a liquid phase are formed, and separating the solid phase from the liquid phase.