Effect of corrosion rates of preheated Schinzochytrium sp. microalgae biodiesel on metallic components of a diesel engine

Hitherto, the myriad of researches conducted on biofuels coupled with their poor oxidative stabilities, show that none of these studies has considered monitoring the corrosive effects of Schinzochytrium sp. microalgae biodiesel on diesel engines. In this study, corrosion behaviors of mild steel (MS), aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu) were compared via immersion tests in preheated schinzochytrium sp. microalgae biodiesel and its blends at room temperature and 60 °C for 1200 h. Property-variation of the individual/blended fuels, corrosion rates/products of the metals, and their morphologies were examined. For the metals, the corrosion rates are in the order of Al < MS < Cu at room temperature and 60 °C. The degraded properties and corrosion rates of the metals in the diesel fuel (B-100) and biodiesel fuel-blends, were seen to be minimal relative to those of neat biodiesel (D-100). The morphologies of the metals in contact with the fuels, showed substantial variation in surface properties for the Al, MS and Cu specimens. Furthermore, of all the three metals, copper was most prone to biodiesel corrosion. Hence, the results suggest the need to anticipate a future where the use of corrosion inhibitors for preventing engine-part degradation induced by biofuels becomes a reality.