Oxidation Stability is one of the most important properties of fatty acid alkyl esters (biodiesel fuel) and primarily affects the stability of biodiesel during extended storage. Degradation by oxidation yields products that may compromise fuel properties, impair fuel quality and engine performance. In Europe, standardization and fuel quality assurance are crucial factors for biodiesel market acceptance, and storage stability is one of the main quality criteria. An overview of researches into biodiesel oxidation stability is presented in an attempt to convey the significance of this important property of biodiesel fuel. Aspects covered include: significance of biodiesel oxidation stability, oxidation chemistry, methods used for characterization of stability, factors known to influence stability, and consequences of biodiesel oxidation for diesel engines. The purpose of this work was to review the findings from some of the key prior research efforts available in the literature and to identify aspects of biodiesel oxidation stability in need of further study.
