Effects of purified Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extract on the oxidative stability and cold flow properties of biodiesel-diesel blends

Abstract

As an alternative energy source to petrochemical diesel, biodiesel has garnered considerable attention due to its green and renewable properties. Nevertheless, the inferior oxidative stability (OS) and unsatisfactory cold flow properties (CFPs) of biodiesel limited its commercial application. The objective of this study was to explored the potential of purified Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extract (GBLE) in improving the OS and CFPs of biodiesel-diesel blends (B20 and B30). The successful extraction of purified GBLE and its performance testing in the blends at the parts per million (ppm) level demonstrated its significant improvement effects. The results indicated that purified GBLE exhibited notable improvements in the OS and CFPs of both B20 and B30. In particular, 1250 ppm purified GBLE demonstrated the most substantial dual-functional improvement for both B20 and B30, increasing the induction period from 2.10 h to 10.93 h for B20, and from 1.02 h to 8.57 h for B30, meeting the EN 14112 standard. Additionally, it also decreased the cold filter plugging point of B20 and B30 by 10 °C and 7 °C, respectively, resulting in a 6 °C reduction for both pour point values. On the other hand, the conversion of discarded Ginkgo biloba L. leaves into valuable dual-functional additives has the potential to attract attention in the biodiesel industry. Hence, addition of purified GBLE appeared to be an effective and economically sustainable strategy to enhance OS and CFPs of the biodiesel-diesel blends (B20 and B30).