Premium
Effect of oxidation under accelerated conditions on fuel properties of methyl soyate (biodiesel)
Author(s) -
Dunn Robert O.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/s11746-002-0579-2
Subject(s) - biodiesel , autoxidation , methanol , diesel fuel , combustion , pulp and paper industry , heat of combustion , acid value , ignition system , chemistry , transesterification , materials science , autoignition temperature , waste management , viscosity , chemical engineering , environmental science , organic chemistry , catalysis , composite material , engineering , biochemistry , aerospace engineering
Biodiesel derived from transesterification of soybean oil and methanol is an attractive alternative fuel for combustion in direct‐injection compression ignition (diesel) engines. During long‐term storage, oxidation due to contact with air (autoxidation) presents a legitimate concern with respect to maintaining fuel quality of biodiesel. This work examines the effects of oxidation under controlled accelerated conditions on fuel properties of methyl soyate (SME). SME samples from four separate sources with varying storage histories were oxidized at elevated temperature under a 0.5 standard cm 3 /min air purge and with continuous stirring. Results showed that reaction time significantly affects kinematic viscosity (ν). With respect to increasing reaction temperature, ν, acid value (AV), PV, and specific gravity (SG) increased significantly, whereas cold flow properties were minimally affected for temperatures up to 150°C. Antioxidants TBHQ and α‐tocopherol showed beneficial effects on retarding oxidative degradation of SME under conditions of this study. Results indicated that ν and AV have the best potential as parameters for timely and easy monitoring of biodiesel fuel quality during storage.