Experimental and numerical studies of biodiesel combustion mechanisms using a laminar counterflow spray premixed flame

•We have done experimental and numerical studies of biodiesel and methyl decanoate (MD) spray premixed flames.•OH PLIF as well as emission spectroscopy and visualization of CH∗ and OH∗ are employed experimentally.•Numerically, a new biodiesel kinetic scheme was developed by combining two existing kinetic schemes.•CH∗ and OH∗ submechanisms were added to both biodiesel and MD kinetic schemes.•The schemes were validated, as well as CH∗ and OH∗ submechanisms for both biodiesel and MD.