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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bio-oils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #261023

Title: Methods to improve oxidative stability of biodiesel

Author
item Moser, Bryan

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/2010
Publication Date: 5/1/2011
Citation: Moser, B.R. 2011. Methods to improve oxidative stability of biodiesel {abstract}. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 75.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Oxidative degradation is one of the chief technical deficiencies of biodiesel relative to petrodiesel. Traditional methods to mitigate susceptibility to oxidation include employment of synthetic antioxidants, switching to more stable feedstocks, reducing the storage time of the fuel, and improving the conditions of storage. The current study explores two additional options: naturally occurring antioxidants, such as gossypol and myricetin, as well as blending less stable fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) with FAME possessing unusual resistance to oxidation. Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba) oil-based biodiesel exhibits exceptional oxidative stability (OS) (IP: 66.2 h by EN 14112) and was, therefore, selected as a blend component for less oxidatively stable FAME prepared from soybean methyl ester (SME) and waste cooking methyl ester (WCME) oils. With regard to natural antioxidants, the results indicated that both gossypol and myricetin improved the OS of FAME, as determined by Rancimat (EN 14112) and pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) methods. Additionally, meadowfoam FAME significantly improved the Rancimat induction periods and PDSC results of SME and WCME with the effect more pronounced at higher blend levels.