Efficiency of different additives in the improvement of the oxidation stability of fatty acid methyl esters with different properties

Abstract

This study evaluates six formulations in improving oxidation stability of different fatty acid methyl esters (MEs). Two MEs differed in the unsaturation levels as they were synthesized from different feedstocks: a blend of soybean and sunflower oils (SoSuME), and waste cooking oil (WCOME); they did not fulfill the requirements of the EN 14214 standard concerning the oxidation stability (~0.6 h) and some impurities. The third MEs (SoSuME-EN) were fully compliant with the standard. Five formulations were phenolic-based, containing single or mixed antioxidant compounds of different molecular structures; one was amine-based. Different dosages of the formulations were added to the ME samples (corresponding to the addition range ~50-48300 ppm). The MEs stability expressed as induction periods, IPs, determined by the Rancimat method, were used for calculation of stabilization factors, SFs, indicating the efficiency of the applied formulation. The formulation containing TBHQ was the most efficient concerning the lowest consumption rate and the highest SF achieved for the low quality ME. 2,2?-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) was linked with higher antioxidant potency than amine-based formulation and the phenolic com-pounds with two bulky tert-butyl groups. Among 4 selected phenolic additives, BHT and 2,2?-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) proved similar efficiency in SoSuME-EN (at ~500 ppm they produced SF~2), while it took twice of this amount for mixed butylphenols to achieve the same effect.