Correlation Development for the Effect of Metal Contaminants on the Thermal Stability of Jatropha curcas Biodiesel

The present paper deals with the study of the effect of metal contaminants on the thermal of Jatropha curcas biodisel (JSB). Talking pyrogallol(PY) as the most effective antioxidant based on the earlier work of the authors, JCB was mixed with different transtion metals, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Cu, in different concentrations. Thermal stability parameters such as insoluble formation (Ins) and activation energy (Ea), were measured using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D6468 and stability in terms of Ins and Ea as a function of the antioxidant and metal concentrations A comparison between the experimental Ins and Ea values and those predicted by the correlation shows that about 95% of the predicted data points lie within +/- 10% deviation lines of the experimental results. This is the first study of its kind being reported showing the relationship of thermal stability with antioxidant concentration and metal contaminants. The correlations developed can be used to predict the amount of antioxidants required to stablize the JCB.