Fuel Processing Technology 91 (2010) 1308–1315

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Fuel Processing Technology

j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / f u p r o c

Comparative corrosive characteristics of petroleum diesel and palm biodiesel for

automotive materials
M.A. Fazal, A.S.M.A. Haseeb ⁎, H.H. Masjuki
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Corrosive characteristics of biodiesel are important for long term durability of engine parts. The present
Received 23 December 2009 study aims to compare the corrosion behavior of aluminum, copper and stainless steel in both petroleum
Received in revised form 9 March 2010 diesel and palm biodiesel. Immersion tests in biodiesel (B100) and diesel (B0) were carried out at 80 °C for
Accepted 22 April 2010
1200 h. At the end of the test, corrosion characteristic was investigated by weight loss measurements and
changes on the exposed metal surface. Surface morphology was examined by optical microscope and
Keywords:
scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDS). Fuels were analyzed by
Corrosion
Copper
using TAN analyzer, FTIR, GCMS and ICP in order to investigate the acid concentration, oxidation level with
Aluminum water content, compositional characteristics and presence of metal species respectively. Results show that
Stainless steel the extent of corrosion and change in fuel properties upon exposure to metals are more in biodiesel than that
Diesel in diesel. Copper and aluminum were susceptible to attack by biodiesel whereas stainless steel was not.
Palm biodiesel © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
As a result of increasing environmental concern and diminishing
petroleum reserves, there is a growing trend to substitute biodiesel
for conventional diesel fuel. As an alternative fuel, though biodiesel
have some technical advantages over diesel fuel, the former appears
to be more corrosive than diesel. The corrosive nature of biodiesel can
be more aggravated if free water and free fatty acid are present in it.
As compared to diesel, biodiesel is more prone to absorb water which
tends to condense on metal surface and may cause enhanced
corrosion. Beside this, auto-oxidation of biodiesel can also enhance
its corrosive characteristics and degradation of fuel properties.
There are only few studies available in the literature related to
corrosion of different metals in biodiesel [1–5]. Most of these studies
find corrosiveness of different biodiesel other than palm biodiesel.
Kaul et al. [1] investigated the corrosiveness of different biodiesel (i.e.
Jatropha curcas, Karanja, Mahua and Salvadora) as compared to that
of diesel fuel. They found that biodiesel from Jatropha curcas and
Salvadora were more aggressive for both ferrous and non-ferrous
metal. Geller et al. [2] have reported that as compared to ferrous
alloys, copper alloys are more prone to be attracted by corrosion into
fat based biodiesel. In an another study, pitting corrosion was found
on the bronze sintered filters integrated oil nozzle after 10 h operation
with biodiesel at 70 °C [3]. Such effectiveness was also reported even
for lower biodiesel (2%) blend [4]. Maleque et al. [6] and Haseeb et al.
⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: + 60 3 79674448; fax: + 60 3 79675317.
E-mail addresses: jewel_mme.buet@yahoo.com (M.A. Fazal), haseeb@um.edu.my
(A.S.M.A. Haseeb), masjuki@um.edu.my (H.H. Masjuki).
[7] found that wear rate in biodiesel was relatively increased due to its
oxidative and corrosive nature. It has been suggested that copper,
aluminum, zinc, brass and bronze are not compatible with biodiesel
[8,9]. Besides, these metals even in small concentration exposed into
biodiesel have been reported as catalyst to oxidize biodiesel [10,11].
According to Sarin et al. [10], during oxidation process, the fatty acid
methyl ester usually forms a radical next to double bond and then
quickly bond with the oxygen from air. After 25 h oxidation of
rapeseed oil methyl ester at 200 °C, Niczke et al. [12] found different
types of volatile products like acids, aldehydes, ketones, lactones,
alkylofurances etc. According to Tsuchiya et al. [4], oxidation of
biodiesel reconverts esters into different mono-carboxylic acids such
as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, caproic acid etc. which are
responsible for enhanced corrosion. This process also increases the
free water content. Free water is undesirable because it may promote
microbial growth and corrode fuel system components [13,14].
Concerns arises from the fact that biodiesel degrades through
auto-oxidation, moisture absorption, attack by microorganisms etc.
during storage or use. These may give rise to potential problems such
as interaction with metal surfaces and at the same time, degradation
of fuel properties. Fuel degradation due to metal contact can also be
different from metal to metal. What makes the situation more
complicated is the fact that under the exposure of different metals
into biodiesel, dissolved oxygen may aggravate its corrosive nature in
different level. A full clarification of such observations is often quite
complicated, as a number of different effects may be involved
(changes in TAN value, increased water content, oxidation product,
presence of metals species, changes in structural features of biodiesel
component etc). Irrespective of such effects, a limited but definite role

0378-3820/$ – see front matter © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2010.04.016
 M.A. Fazal et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 91 (2010) 1308–1315 1309

is usually attributed to characterize the corrosion behavior of different Degradation of fuel properties were investigated by measuring total
metals into fuel. acid number (TAN), density and viscosity.
The present study aims to investigate the corrosion behavior of
copper, aluminum, stainless steel in diesel and palm biodiesel, and in 3. Results and discussions
turn to evaluate their influence in degradation of fuel properties. The
cause behind choosing these metals for investigation can be attributed 3.1. Comparative corrosion rate
to their broad range of usages in manufacturing automobile com-
ponents. In automobile fuel system, the common parts made from Fig. 1 shows the comparative corrosion rate for stainless steel,
aluminum are piston (100%), engine block (19%), cylinder head (70%) aluminum and copper upon exposure into diesel and biodiesel at
etc. [15]. Similarly, the metals used for manufacturing pump, injector, 80 °C for 600 h and 1200 h. It is observed that the corrosion rate of
bearing are copper or its alloys [3,16]. Many components like nozzle, copper in biodiesel increases with increasing time, while for alu-
fuel filter, valve bodies, and pump ring are made from stainless steel minum, it slightly decreases. The corrosion rate of both copper and
[3,17]. All these parts from different materials come into contact with aluminum in biodiesel is much higher than that in diesel fuel. Stain-
fuel and seem to undergo chemical interactions and thereby degrade less steel shows no significant corrosion even in biodiesel.
fuel properties too. In a previous study [18], copper was found to be Presence of free fatty acid, more oxygen moieties and water con-
affected by pitting corrosion at 60 °C. In the present study, a higher tent, impurities remaining after processing seem to increase the
temperature (80 °C) is used to investigate its effect on pit formation corrosiveness of biodiesel as compared to diesel fuel. Kaul et al. [1]
on copper as well as on other ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Results suggested that biodiesel was more corrosive due the presence of
obtained are expected to help in understanding the corrosion of fuel higher concentration of unsaturated acid components. They have also
system parts in biodiesel while its inlet temperature is 80 °C [19,20]. reported that the increasing of TAN number after test duration
indicates oxidation of biodiesel due to contact with metal samples.
2. Experimental This is in good agreement with the results obtained by Tsuchiya et al.
[4] where it has been reported that oxidation of biodiesel increases
The palm biodiesel used in this study was supplied by Weshchem TAN number and water content and thereby becomes more corrosive.
Technology Sdn Bhd, Malaysia. The analysis report provided by As shown in Fig. 1(b), the obtained corrosion rates at 80 °C in palm
the supplier is summarized elsewhere [18]. Corrosion characteristic biodiesel for copper, aluminum and stainless steel are 0.586, 0.202
of copper (99.99%), aluminum (99% commercially pure) and 316
stainless steel (18% Cr, 11% Ni, 2% Mn, 1% Si and 0.08% C) in both
diesel and palm biodiesel was investigated by immersion test at
80 °C for 1200 h. During the test, fuels were continuously stirred
by the magnetic stirrer at speed 250 rpm. The test coupons of copper
(17.2 mm diameter × 2 mm thickness), aluminum (22.6 mm diame-
ter × 2 mm thickness) and stainless steel (16 mm diameter × 2 mm
thickness) were made from round bar by machining and grinding.
For hanging the specimen into fuels, a hole of diameter 2 mm was
drilled near the edge of the specimen. Before immersion, the cou-
pons were treated as follows: polished with silicon carbide abrasive
papers (from grade 400 to 1200), then washed and degreased with
acetone. These were then dipped into 10% sulfuric acid at room
temperature for several minutes followed by washing in deionized
water. Similarly after exposure, for removing corrosion products,
samples were scrubbed lightly in a stream of water with a polymer
brush so as not to mechanically abrade the original surface. Before
and after exposing the test coupons into different test fuels weight
was measured by a balance with four decimal accuracy. Two dupli-
cate coupons were immersed in each test fuel. For each coupon,
weight loss was measured by subtracting the final weight (obtained
after exposure) from its initial weight (before exposure). At the
end of the test, corrosion behavior was investigated by measure-
ment of corrosion rate and changes in surface morphology. The
average weight loss measured from duplicate test coupons was then
converted into corrosion rate (mpy) using Eq (1) [21].

W × 534
Corrosion rateðmpyÞ = ð1Þ
D×T ×A

where corrosion rate “mpy” stands for mils (0.001 inch) per year, W
is the weight loss (mg), D is the density (g/cm3), A is the exposed
surface area (square inch) and T is the exposure time (h).
Changes in surface morphology were characterized by optical
microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscopy with energy
dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDS). Fuels were analyzed by using
gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GCMS), Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and inductively-couple plasma (ICP) in
order to investigate the changes in fuel composition, oxidation level Fig. 1. Corrosion rate of stainless steel, aluminum and copper in diesel and biodiesel
with water content and presence of metal species respectively. after immersion for (a) 600 h and (b) 1200 h at 80 °C.
1310 M.A. Fazal et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 91 (2010) 1308–1315

and 0.015 mpy respectively while stirring speed was 250 rpm. In our respectively. These results more likely demonstrate that palm
previous study [18], tests were carried out at 60 °C under static biodiesel seems to be little bit more corrosive than fat biodiesel or
immersion in palm biodiesel. The corrosion rate obtained for copper biodiesel from Jattopha curcas, Karanja, Mahua and Salvadora.
was 0.053 mpy which is much less than that in the current study.
Higher corrosion of copper in the present study can be attributed to 3.2. Surface morphology
higher test temperature as well as presence of relative motion
between metal and the fuels. This is in good agreement with the Fig. 2 shows that copper and aluminum in biodiesel were sub-
literature where it has been reported that copper could be susceptible jected to higher pitting corrosion than that in diesel. Upon exposure in
to enhanced corrosion as a result of higher temperature [22] as well biodiesel, the average linear densities (measured by using Eq. (2)) of
as sufficient relative motion between the metal and fluids [23]. the pits formed on copper and aluminum surfaces are 80% and 18%
However, corrosion rate can also be varied depending on the feed- respectively while in diesel, 54% and 10% accordingly. No significant
stock of biodiesel. Upon exposure to fat based biodiesel blend (B80) change is found for the surfaces of stainless steel exposed in diesel
for 10 months at 38 °C, Geller et al. [2] found that the corrosion rate and biodiesel.
for copper is 0.5576 mpy. In an another immersion test conducted by
n
Kaul et al. [1] in Jatropha curcas, Karanja, Mahua and Salvadora
∑ li
biodiesel for 300 days at room temperature, the obtained corrosion i=1
Pit Density = × 100% ð2Þ
rates for aluminum were 0.0784, 0.0065, 0.1329 and 0.1988 mpy L

Fig. 2. Optical photographs (100×) of the surfaces for copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) and stainless steel (SS) sample after exposing to diesel and palm biodiesel at 80 °C for 1200 h.
 M.A. Fazal et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 91 (2010) 1308–1315
where n is the number of pits on a straight line drawn horizon-
tally from one end to another over the optical photograph, i is for (1, 2,
3....n), l is the length of a pit that overlaps with the drawn straight
line and L is the total length of straight line.
For further investigation of the damaged surface exposed into
biodiesel, SEM pictures (of 100×, 2000× magnification) were taken
(Figs. 3 and 4). Upon exposure into biodiesel at 80 °C, the number
of pits on copper surface is much higher than that on other metals.
Size and distribution of the pits are also different as seen in Fig. 3(b).
The pit morphology and the mechanism of pitting seem to depend
on the relative concentrations of both positive and negative ions.
According to Mankowski et al. [24], copper in oxygen atmosphere
forms oxygen rich CuO/CuCO3 (outer layer) followed by Cu2O (inner
layer). Similar things seem to happen in O2 rich biodiesel. On bio-
diesel exposed copper surface, pits are more likely to form by
replacing oxygen ions from Cu2O through destruction of CuO layer
from copper surface. Higher magnification of the pit area as seen in
Fig. 3(c) shows the pits that are available in the oxide layer. Results
from EDS analysis of biodiesel exposed copper and aluminum surfaces
(Fig. 5) show that higher percentage of carbon and oxygen are
available on the oxide layer. It is pointed that the growth of oxide
layer may occur by metal moving outwards or oxygen inwards [25].
Fig. 3. SEM picture of copper surface before and after exposure into palm biodiesel at
80 °C for 1200 h.
1311
3.3. Compositional changes
Fig. 6 shows the changes in color for as-received both diesel and
biodiesel upon exposure with different metals for 1200 h at 80 °C. It is
seen that only copper exposed biodiesel and diesel show large
changes in color as compared to their as-received states. This may be
attributed to presence of metal species or change in biodiesel com-
position. Such possibilities were investigated by GCMS and ICP test
and their respective results are shown in Tables 1–3.
Results from GCMS analysis (Tables 1 and 2) show that the
major component in palm biodiesel are palminate (16:0; 44.272%),
methyl oleate (18:1, 35.934%) esters. These components are highly
reduced in abundance after heating with or without exposing copper
into biodiesel. Table 1 shows the comparative changes in biodiesel
components with respect to the components present in as-receive
condition while Table 2 shows the newly produced acids, ketones,
aldehydes etc. after heating with or without exposing copper. The
newly produced acids due to heating of biodiesel without exposing
metal are decanedioic acid, nanonoic acid, hydroxypentadecanoic
acid, 15-hydroxypentadecanoic acid etc. In the presence of copper,
different acids like 9-octadecenoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid,
hexadecanoic acid, 9-octadecanoic acid are found. In addition to these
acids, different types of other short chain esters, aldehydes, ketones
are found to be produced in both conditions. Apart from increasing
the corrosiveness of biodiesel, these compositional changes may also
degrade the fuel properties.
Table 3 shows the result obtained from ICP test. It is seen that
sulfur is only available in diesel fuel. Upon exposure of different
metals into diesel and biodiesel, the obtained metal species is always
higher in biodiesel as compared to that in diesel fuel. This suggests
that biodiesel is more corrosive than diesel fuel.
Results from ICP test show that more copper ions are found in
biodiesel than that in diesel. This indicates that copper is more
reactive in biodiesel. According to Lu X et al. [26], existence of oxygen
might accelerate the formation of metal oxide. Color variation of test
fuel as shown in Fig. 7 indicates the possible type of formed copper
oxide. The probable oxide of copper that is dominant in biodiesel is
copper carbonate (CuCO3) of pale green color while in diesel, it is
cuprite oxide (Cu2O) of red color. According to Huang and Tsai [27],
color variation is an indicator of the transformation of copper species
with reaction temperature and oxygen atmospheres. Like copper,
more aluminum species are found in biodiesel than that in diesel. The
metal species present in fuel may also degrade the fuel properties.
In addition to formation of metal oxide, biodiesel itself can also
be oxidized while metal can act as a catalyst [9,10]. Fig. 7 shows the
concentration of biodiesel oxidation product before and after
exposing to different metals.
According to Yamane et al. [28] esters react with the oxygen in
air to form a number of different chemical species including alde-
hydes, ketones, carboxylic acids etc. Absorption of these carbonyl
groups measured by FTIR spectroscopy as per ASTM D7418 shows
that biodiesel become highly oxidized due presence of copper.
3.4. Changes in fuel properties
The total acid numbers (TAN) of the diesel and biodiesel were
measured before and after exposure of different metals as shown in
Fig. 8. It is seen that TAN numbers for as-received both diesel and
biodiesel are under the limit given by ASTM standard specifications.
But biodiesel upon 1200 h exposure to different metals crosses this
limit while for diesel, no significant changes are observed.
Changes in total acid number of aluminum and copper exposed
biodiesel are almost similar irrespective to their respective corrosive-
ness (Fig. 8). In other words, upon exposure, the acid number is
increased in similar trend for both metals while the corrosion rate for
different metals is different. This indicates that metal itself has also its
1312 M.A. Fazal et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 91 (2010) 1308–1315

Fig. 4. SEM picture of aluminum (Al) and Stainless Steel (SS) surface before and after exposure into palm biodiesel at 80 °C for 1200 h.

own characteristics to determine the corrosiveness of the fuel. In aluminum exposed Jatropha curcas, Karanja, Mahua and Salvadora
addition, based on biodiesel feedstock, the change in TAN number can biodiesel were changed from 0.38, 0.42, 0.32, 0.45 (mg KOH/g) to
also be varied. According to Kaul et al. [1] the TAN numbers for 14.48, 14.39, 11.30, 2.38 (mg KOH/g) accordingly. Increased TAN

Fig. 5. Elemental analysis of copper and aluminum surface upon exposure into palm biodiesel at 80 °C for 1200 h.
 M.A. Fazal et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 91 (2010) 1308–1315 1313

water can promote microbial growth and corrode fuel system com-
ponents. Besides, water particularly at high temperature can
hydrolyze esters as well as triglycerides and thereby produce different
types of fatty acids which are more corrosive [30].
Results obtained from the investigation of compositional changes
in fuel as well as degradation of fuel properties indicate that biodiesel
is more aggressive than diesel fuel by bearing more acid compounds
due to higher oxidation. This is in general agreement with the
literature where it has been reported that biodiesel is far more prone
to oxidation than petrodiesel [11,31]. The higher degradation of metal
surface when in contact with biodiesel is probably related to its fatty
acid components, water content, oxygen moieties etc. For diesel fuel,
hydrocarbons themselves do not cause corrosion but the presence of
water content, sulfur molecule and acid compounds can cause chemi-
cal attack [32]. However, these phenomena did not affect for changing
surface morphology of stainless steel. Fig. 2 shows that both copper
and aluminum in biodiesel were subjected to pit corrosion while
stainless steel was unaffected. Such effectiveness of diesel and bio-
diesel for stainless steel cannot be expected with reference of their
electrical conductivities since if they are the determinant, galvanic
corrosion may happen preferably with the pair of biodiesel and
stainless steel [29].

4. Conclusions

This study suggests the following conclusions:

Fig. 6. Changes in color for both diesel (B0) and biodiesel (B100) upon exposure with
copper, aluminum and stainless steel for 1200 h at 80 °C.
1. As compared to diesel, biodiesel is more corrosive for copper and
aluminum as indicated by weight loss and corrosion rate
measurement, density of pits, and results from ICP test.
number is the indicator of oxidation [1,4]. From Fig. 8, it is seen that 2. Copper acts as strong catalyst to oxidize palm biodiesel.
the TAN number for copper exposed biodiesel is relatively higher than 3. Higher moisture absorption, presence of oxygen moieties, and fatty
that of others. This suggests that copper acts as a strong catalyst to acids produced from auto-oxidation seem to act as major factors
oxidize biodiesel. It is noted that the difference in TAN number for enhanced corrosiveness of biodiesel.
between stainless steel and copper exposed biodiesel is very little but 4. Biodiesel in contact with metals shows significant degradation in
the difference in their respective corrosion rate is many times (Fig. 1). fuel properties as evidenced by increasing TAN number, viscosity
This suggests no strong correlation between change in acid number and density.
and corrosiveness of the fuel. Similar agreement was also found by 5. Though stainless steel is compatible with biodiesel, it can change
Jakab et al. [29]. the fuel properties as well.
Fig. 9 shows the changes in density and viscosity for as-received
both diesel and biodiesel as compared to metal exposed fuels at 80 °C
for 1200 h. It is noticeable that only copper exposed biodiesel crosses
the given limit for density whereas for viscosity, each fuel shows their
Table 1
value within the limit given by ASTM standard. Compositional change of palm biodiesel after heating with and without exposing
Change in density for copper exposed biodiesel is relatively larger copper at 80 °C for 1200 h.
than other fuels. Unlike density, values of viscosity for different metal
Chemical Commercial Area %
exposed biodiesel are almost similar and also very close to the name name
viscosity of its as-received state. However, density may change a lot As- B100 B100
received (heated) (heated)/
due to presence of higher metal species in biodiesel as evidenced by
B100 (Cu)
the results obtained from ICP test (Table 3).
Dodecanoic acid Methyl laurate (12:0) 1.07 0.43 1.02
It is seen from Fig. 10 that percentage of water in both diesel and
methyl ester
biodiesel increases upon exposure to different metals. Results from Tetradecanoic acid Methyl myristate (14:0) 3.70 2.58 4.45
Fig. 10 demonstrate that biodiesel absorbs more water than diesel methyl ester
fuel. 9-Hexadececanoic Palmitoleate (16:1) 0.49 0.45 0.24
Water is the major ingredient to make the fuel more aggressive. acid methyl ester
Hexadecanoic acid Palminate (16:0) 44.27 37.25 30.15
From Fig. 10, it is seen that as-received both diesel and biodiesel have methyl ester
no water while after immersion test, water content is increased. Heptadecanoic Methyl heptadecanoate 0.19 0.54 0.42
Though as-received fuels are virtually water-free, during storage or acid methyl ester
use, due to its hygroscopic nature it can absorb moisture from 8-Octadecenoic Methyl oleate (18:1) 35.93 25.37 23.37
acid methyl ester
atmosphere. A far more striking fact, however, is that the water
Octadecanoic acid Methyl stearate (18:0) 4.13 8.67 7.75
content of biodiesel exposed with different metals is almost similar. methyl ester
This can indicate that increasing water content is not depended on the Eicosanoic acid Arachidic (20:0) 0.24 1.19 0.68
types of metal exposed in biodiesel. Upon exposure of metals into methyl ester
biodiesel, water may condense on metal surface and thereby enhance 9-12-Octadecadienoic Methyl linoleate (18:2) 0 1.16 0.76
acid methyl ester
the corrosion process. According to Kaminski and Kurzydlowski [13],
1314 M.A. Fazal et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 91 (2010) 1308–1315

Table 2
Newly produced components in heated biodiesel with and without exposing copper.

Heated B100 without exposing copper; B100 (heated) Heated B100 upon exposure of copper; B100 (Heated/Cu)

Acids (%) Others (%) Acids (%) Others (%)

Decanedioic acid (0.578%) Oxiraneoctanoic acid 3-octyl methyl
ester (5.301%)
Nanonoic acid (1.069%) Methyl 10-oxohexadecanoate (7.263%)
15-Hydroxypentadecanoic Nanonedioic acid mono methyl
acid (0.228%) ester (4.772%)
Hexadecanoic acid (1.874%) Suberic acid methyl ester (2.592%)
15-Hydroxypentadecanoic acid (0.22%) Butanal, ethylhydrazone (0.9%)
9-Octadecenoic acid (2.255%)
Octanoic acid (0.185%)
Nonanoic acid (0.338%)
Hexadecanoic acid (0.958%)
9-Octadecanoic acid (0.161%)
Oxiraneoctanoic acid 3-octyl methyl
ester (8.501%)
4 Undecannone acid methyl ester (5.721%)
2-Fluorophenyl isothiocyanate, Silane,
Benzene (5.233%)
4,8-Decadienoic acid, 2-acetyl-methyl
ester (0.579%)
9 Hexadecenoic acid methyl ester (0.3%)

Table 3 Acknowledgement
Concentration of metal species obtained from ICP test of diesel (B0) and biodiesel
(B100) before and after immersion test at 80 °C for 1200 h. The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support
Element B100 B0 (Cu) B100(Cu) B0(Al) B100(Al)
provided by the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation
(ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (MOSTI) under the science Fund by Grant No: 03-02-03-SF3073 and
by the Institute of Research Management and Consultancy, University
Cu 0 15.5 30.1 0 0
Al 0 0 0 13.92 15.83 of Malaya (UM) under the IPPP Fund Project No.: PS093/2008B.
S 0 1.25 0 1.21 0

Fig. 7. Variation of oxidation product rate (absorbance per 0.1 mm path length: A/0.1 mm) of
biodiesel before and after exposing or without exposing to different metals at 80 °C for 1200 h.

Fig. 8. Total acid number (TAN) measured in diesel and palm biodiesel before and after Fig. 9. Changes in (a) density and (b) viscosity for both diesel and palm biodiesel before
exposure to different metals at 80 °C for 1200 h. and after exposure to different metals at 80 °C for1200 h.
 M.A. Fazal et al. / Fuel Processing Technology 91 (2010) 1308–1315
Fig. 10. Comparative water content for as-received fuel and the fuels obtained after
immersion test by exposing different metals at 80 °C for1200 h.
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