Analysis and optimization on fuel stability characteristics of biodiesel blends dosed with antioxidants

Abstract

Currently, importing fossil fuel in India is getting limited due to the scarcity of natural resources and elevated global warming urging our nation to look towards eco-friendly products. Keeping in mind of the shortage and emission threats from fossil fuel like petro diesel, scientists are seeking for renewable solutions to replace existing petro-diesel. In that way, biodiesel is considered as a solution for the above threats which can be produced from vegetable oil, animal fats through two step transesterification technique. Unlike petro-diesel, biodiesel has a major disadvantage called unstable biodiesel properties when it gets in touch with atmospheric oxygen tending to degradation preventing the biodiesel from commercialization. To solve this issue this research analyzes three stability parameters like Rapid Rate Oxidation Stability (RROS), Extended Storage Stability (ESS) and Thermal Degradation Stability (TDS) mutually as a novel approach as they are interrelated with each other which has not been focused by previous studies. Scientific antioxidants like Tert butyl hydroquinone, Propyl gallate, Pyrogallol, Butylated hydroxytoluene and Butylated hydroxytoluene have been used as the stabilizers at various concentrations. Since this research investigates three stability parameters, each criterion shows best results in each sets of antioxidant concentration leading the research to multi objective type. To overcome this difficulty, this is the first study involving the optimization and weightage techniques in analyzing stability parameters tending to another novel approach. Optimization techniques like newlineTechnique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution and Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution with weightage evaluation techniques like Best Worst Method and Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation have been involved in which 1000 ppm (C) Tert butyl Hydroquinone (T) antioxidant (AP100TC) obtained first rank among the scientific antioxidant dosed samples.