Can We Find an Optimal Fatty Acid Composition of Biodiesel in Order to Improve Oxidation Stability?

Rafael R. Maes (), Geert Potters, Erik Fransen, Jeroen Geuens, Rowan Van Schaeren and Silvia Lenaerts
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Rafael R. Maes: Antwerp Maritime Academy, 2030 Antwerp, Belgium
Geert Potters: Antwerp Maritime Academy, 2030 Antwerp, Belgium
Erik Fransen: STATUA Center for Statistics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Jeroen Geuens: Karel de Grote Hogeschool, Research Centre Sustainable Industries, 2660 Antwerp, Belgium
Rowan Van Schaeren: Antwerp Maritime Academy, 2030 Antwerp, Belgium
Silvia Lenaerts: Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-10

Abstract: Air quality currently poses a major risk for human health. Currently, diesel is widely used as fuel and is a significant source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), both hazardous to human health. A good alternative for mineral diesel is biodiesel, not only for the improvement of hazardous components in the exhaust gases but also because it can be produced in view of a circular economy. Biodiesel consists of a mix of different fatty acid methyl esters, which can react with oxygen. As a consequence, the oxidation stability of biodiesel has to be studied, because the oxidation of biodiesel could affect the performance of the engine due to the wear of injectors and fuel pumps. The oxidation stability could also affect the quality of the exhaust gases due to increases in NOx and PM. The basic question we try to answer in this communication is: ‘Can we find an optimal fatty acid composition in order to have a maximal oxidation stability?’ In this article, we try to find the optimal fatty acid composition according to the five most common fatty acid methyl esters present in biodiesel in order to reach a maximal oxidation stability. The measurements and statistical analysis show, however, that there is no useful regression model because there are statistically significant two- and three-way interactions among the different fatty acids.

Keywords: fatty acid composition; biodiesel; oxidation stability; two- and three-way interactions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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