Oxidation Stability
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The biodiesel that is produced today varies somewhat as it is derived from a number of feed stocks which change characteristics from harvest to harvest. Complexities increase once it is blended with other additives or petroleum based diesel. One serious challenge for producers and traders has been to ensure that the biodiesel produced remains stable and usable for a sufficient period of time after it has been blended. The problem is that biodiesel is more prone to oxidation than traditional diesel, which can cause engine problems such as blocked fuel filters. Anti-oxidants exist that can help counteract this effect, but the challenge is matching the best anti-oxidant to the fuel blend under consideration, as each biodiesel blend varies. This is still largely a process of experimentation, as the feed stocks, the biodiesel produced, and the final biodiesel blend vary so much that no single approach can hope to address all of the variables at play. Work is under way, and some fairly broad principles are beginning to emerge that will help match the best anti-oxidant to the right fuel blend, however, the process remains an exercise in experimentation and observation to determine the correct use of anti-oxidants and other additives. BENEFITS FOR YOU:
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