(111i) Assessing the Long-Term Stability & Degradation of a Marine Advanced Biofuel Blend
AIChE Annual Meeting
2023
2023 AIChE Annual Meeting
Fuels and Petrochemicals Division
Advances in Biofuels Production and Alternative Fuels I
Monday, November 6, 2023 - 2:46pm to 3:03pm
In this presentation, the results of a comprehensive storage and testing protocol will be discussed, developed to investigate the stability and degradation of a 20% biofuel blend of used cooking oil (UCO) biodiesel and very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) without the use of any antioxidants over a period of 12 months. Three sample groups, each comprising five 1L samples, have been assigned and stored under different temperatures, i.e., 4oC, 23oC and 50oC. In each group, five different storage configurations have been designed to account for various environmental conditions, such as water presence, light and oxygen exposure. Eight parameters have been monitored in all samples for one year following standardized procedures, i.e., acid value, microbial contamination, density, viscosity, total sediment potential, water and sediment, peroxide value and oxidation onset temperature. Our results indicate that minor degradation and microbial contamination were evident after the first three months of storage, and gradually worsened over time, particularly in samples with water and oxygen exposure. Potential impacts of such degradation on fuel properties and engine operation will be discussed together with relevant mitigation actions, providing valuable insights to both biofuel producers and users for maintaining fuel quality and ensuring long-term engine performance.