The Use of the Liquid from Cashew Nut Shells as an Antioxidant in Biodiesel

The influence of cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) in the oxidative stability of biodiesels prepared from oils of soy, corn, canola and sunflower was studied using the Rancimat method. The induction periods at 110 degrees C, without and with the addition of CNSL at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0% m/m, were determined and clearly show an important increase in the oxidative stability proportional to the concentration of the additive. For example, with the addition of 0.1% m/m CNSL, the induction period, in hours, increased from 5.7 to 8.5 (soy biodiesel), from 1.7 to 4.0 (sunflower), from 4.3 to 9.3 (corn) and from 6.9 to 12.8 (canola). The rate constants of the oxidation reactions in presence of CNSL were also determined and their respective values are (in h(-1)): 0.77 +/- 0.08, 2.48 +/- 0.46, 0.94 +/- 0.08, 0.51 +/- 0.11. The activation parameters (enthalpy, Delta H*, entropy, Delta S*, and free energy of activation, Delta G*) for the oxidation reactions were determined.