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Evaluation of the Effect of Tocopherols on the Stability of Biodiesel
Frohlich, A.
Frohlich, A.
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2005-04-01
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Fröhlich, A., Evaluation of the Effect of Tocopherols on the Stability of Biodiesel, End of Project Reports, Teagasc, 2005.
Abstract
A comprehensive study was carried out on the effects of naturally occurring tocopherols and carotenoids on the stability
of biodiesel-grade methyl esters. Commercially available tocopherols and carotenoids, α-, γ- and δ-tocopherol, carotene
and asthaxanthin, were added to destabilised methyl esters and the solutions were exposed to air at 65oC. The stabilising
effect of the added tocopherols and carotenoids was determined from the number of days needed to reach the same
increase of viscosity as destabilised methyl ester without tocopherols after 1 day. All three tocopherols stabilised methyl
esters; γ- being the most effective and α- the least. The stabilising effect of tocopherols increased with concentration up
to an optimum level. Concentrations above this level did not improve stability significantly. The stabilising effect of the
tocopherols also depended on the composition of the methyl ester; they were most effective in tallow methyl ester, and
had the least effect on sunflower methyl ester. Carotene and asthaxanthin had no effect on the stability of the methyl
esters. However an unidentified carotenoid in rape methyl ester changed the oxidation pattern by reducing rates of
peroxide and viscosity increase, without affecting overall stability.