The Engineering Web Toolbar delivers only engineering-specific content. Install Now->

August 23, 2005

	Web jobwerx.com jobwerx.tradepub.com

Biodiesel Shelf Life Improvement in the Fuel Market

Seattle, WA, USA--(Jobwerx News)--Effective antioxidant ensures that Biodiesel fuel, primarily obtained from rapeseed oil, remains stable for longer periods of time.

Over the past ten years, biodiesel, as an environmentally compatible and cost-effective alternative to conventional diesel, has steadily increased its share of the fuel market. To ensure a high fuel quality that permanently remains stable according to the European DIN EN 14214 standard, the Consortium for Biodiesel Quality Management (AGQM e.V.) now demands the addition of an active ingredient to maintain the necessary shelf life. For this purpose, LANXESS Deutschland GmbH in Leverkusen has developed its Baynox® biodiesel stabilizer. This effective antioxidant ensures that the fuel, primarily obtained from rapeseed oil, remains stable for longer periods of time. Previously, the shelf life of the biodiesel, which from a chemical point of view is a methyl ester of unsaturated fatty acids, was dependent on the vagaries of nature.

Biodiesel stabilizer passes “no harm” test Biodiesel is an environmentally compatible and cost-effective alternative to conventional diesel. Baynox® Biodiesel Stabilizer is highly effective, ensuring that the fuel primarily obtained from rapeseed oil does not become “rancid”.

Biodiesel is produced by transesterification of vegetable oils with methanol. In most cases rapeseed oil is used, but used fats from the food industry and animal fats are another option. The one thing all of these have in common is that they are raw materials for renewable energy sources. The disadvantage of the natural fuel is that the unsaturated fatty acids are easily oxidized by oxygen in the air. The oxidation of oils and fats by atmospheric oxygen is known as rancidity. Heat, light and pressure facilitate this process. The oil becomes rancid within a short period of time. The consequences of oxidation are firstly that biodiesel decomposes to form short-chain fatty acids, and secondly that insoluble polymers (gums) are formed. This might cause damage to the engine and the fuel injection system.

Fuel additives, such as Baynox® biodiesel stabilizer, are only permitted to be used in fuels by mineral oil companies if they do not damage the engine or the fuel. The Austrian Mineral Oil Company (OMV) has now awarded Baynox® the coveted "no harm" certificate after in-depth analysis of the product. This proves that LANXESS’s biodiesel stabilizer can be used unreservedly to improve the shelf life of pure biodiesel and of mineral-based diesel containing added biodiesel (B 5) .

In general, biodiesel made from rapeseed oil is highly resistant to oxidation, because vitamin E (tocopherol) protects oil-yielding plants as a natural antioxidant. Depending on the production processes, this will also be passed into the biodiesel to a greater or lesser extent. Yet its stability diminishes with time, which can be proved by carrying out the Rancimat test in standardized apparatus. After approximately 10 days it falls by one hour in the test. After two months the biodiesel is completely unstable and oxidation can take place unimpeded in a chain reaction. However, the DIN EN 14214 standard stipulates that biodiesel must remain stable and undecomposed for at least six hours at a temperature of 110 °C. Biodiesel has to fulfill this requirement not only at the production plant but at the pump when refueling vehicles.

As the fuel in the tank of a car is very likely to reach temperatures of up to 40 °C and the contents of the tank are not always completely used within 10 days, it is essential that it has a sufficiently high stability when it leaves the plant to ensure the operational safety of biodiesel.

Adding Baynox® can increase the natural shelf life of biodiesel. Biodiesel that does not exhibit the required stability of six hours after production in the Rancimat test can be quickly adjusted to the sufficient level of suitability by adding Baynox® - enough for transportation and a long period of storage at the gas station and in the tank of a diesel-fueled vehicle.

The active ingredient in the stabilizer is a chemical simulation of vitamin E, but significantly more effective and just as safe and environmentally compatible. Just like vitamin E, Baynox® intercepts the peroxyde radicals and stops the autocatalytic oxidation of the unsaturated fatty acids. The high-purity, antioxidant active ingredient is dissolved in biodiesel and has virtually the same viscosity and density as pure biodiesel. Apart from the active ingredient and biodiesel (RME), Baynox® does not contain any alcohol or mineral-based stability promoters or other auxiliary agents. The active ingredient combusts in the vehicle’s engine without leaving any residue.

Bayer Industry Services GmbH offers analytical tests to ascertain the stability of biodiesel using the Rancimat test and the content of Baynox and vitamin E in biodiesel. These can be arranged by LANXESS upon request. It can be established from this analysis how much stabilizer is required for a particular purpose. Unnecessary costs resulting from an overdose or non-compliance with standards can therefore be avoided.

Photo courtesy of LANXESS.

Click here to view more news articles

E-mail this page to a friend

Post a Job in the Chemicals Industry






Featured News

- Plastics Solutions Provider Delivers Solid Results

- American Management Association Training and Certification Programs

- Engineering Plastics Aide Offshore Oil Exploration

- GE Plastics Provides Traveling Light Material for Winnebago

- All this Months News

Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are © 1998/2005– JOBWERX.COM. – All Rights Reserved. For permission to reproduce any contents of this web site, please advise our Syndication department: Log onto HELP

Create on-line tests, quizzes, assessments and exams in minutes!
Easy as 1, 2, 3