Optimization of long-term storage stability of Kusum biodiesel using herbal anti-oxidant

Currently, biodiesel is proclaimed as alternative fuel for compression ignition engines. However, poor oxidation stability of biodiesel is the major challenge for long-term storage of biodiesel. The oxidative nature of fuel degrades the viscosity, calorific value, acid value, and so on. Still, antioxidants provided satisfactory results. Ginger powder has good antioxidant properties. The present study explored the possibility to improve storage stability with the major characteristics of biodiesel fuel like calorific value, acid value, kinematic viscosity, and peroxide value. The response surface methodology (RSM) optimization has been employed and process parameters were taken as storage time, exposure temperature, and blending ratio and ginger antioxidant. For test fuels, oxidation stability results data was obtained by the EN14112 reference method Rancimat. The interaction plots have been shown in the present work and got 31.3% biodiesel blend, 676.7 ppm concentration of ginger, 120 degrees C exposure temperature, and 4.24 months storage time. After analysis, RSM optimizer results of calorific value, viscosity, acid value, and induction period were 42 MJ/kg, 3.3 cSt, 0.176 mgKOH/g, and 16 h respectively. Validation has been done through experimental trails and found satisfactory limits. So, ginger is explored as a novel antioxidant at variable concentration and found satisfactory for biodiesel fuel storage.