AGQM completes 5th test round for oxidation stabilisers

The working group Quality Management Biodiesel e.V. (AGQM) has completed the fifth test period of the no-harm test for oxidation stabilisers and added additional products to its no-harm list. These demanding tests ensure that chemical and physical properties are not affected by the use of oxidation stabilisers in Biodiesel, that no inadmissible reciprocal effects occurs with other oxidation stabilisers and that security datasheets are available for the additive.

As a result, Biodiesel manufacturers can now choose from a total of 32 positively tested products from 20 manufacturers. In the fifth test period, the following oxidation stabilisers were tested successfully:

• Viscoplex®10-780 (EvonikRohMax Additives GmbH)

• PerfoLIFT BD-4 (International Fuel Technolgoy)

• Nalco®5300A (Nalco Engergy Services)

•Vitera™ XT (Taminco Higher Amines Inc.)

• HFA 8042 (WRT BV)

In addition, relative efficiency was determined, offering the possibility to choose the most economic stabilizer. Every successfully tested product receives an AGQM test certificate, which the Biodiesel producer can request as evidence of successfully passing the test. The updated product list is available under the following link: http://www.agqm.de/index.php?menu_sel=29&menu_sel2=22

In order to meet the product stability requirements, the use of oxidation stabilisers is common use in Biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester, FAME). Since additives may change the properties of a fuel, no-harm tests are important to avoid negative impacts on fuel quality. For this reason, the AGQM no-harm list is increasingly used as basis for purchase specifications. The full report on the AGQM no-harm test program, summarising the test results of all products examined so far, is available for a charge on the AGQM homepage.