Global biodiesel supplier World Energy Alternatives LLC and Innospec Fuel Specialties, a division of specialty chemical company Innospec Inc., recently agreed to use Innospec's new, trademarked Biostable package of fuel additives to improve the stability of World Energy's biodiesel products. "This is not just a product supply agreement," said Tom Entwistle, director of sales for Innospec Fuel Specialties. "We're trying to raise the standard of biodiesel that's introduced into the worldwide market."

The agreement stems from an ASTM decision approximately a year ago that changed the oxidative stability specification for biodiesel. "In order to meet the specification, some products such as soybean oil normally need an additive," explained Mike Szady, vice president of supply at World Energy. "So we started looking around at the different additives on the market, as well as the different additive companies that were out there. The one company that came recommended very highly for its technical abilities was Innospec."

At that time, Innospec was beginning to roll out an additive package specifically for improving the stability of biodiesel. Over the past year or so, the two companies have worked together to improve the package and create the Biostable line of products that World Energy will use in its biodiesel. The new additives, which come in a liquid form, act to inhibit peroxide formation, protect against metal-catalyzed oxidation and minimize the effect of gum formation from peroxide decomposition.

In the three-year agreement, Innospec will be World Energy's primary stability additive supplier for all the biodiesel the company requires it for. Although the agreement centers on oxidative stability, the two companies expect to work together on other quality issues that may be rectified through the development of additional additives, such as ones that may improve cold flow. "World Energy can educate us on their challenges, and we can provide technologies and additives based on what they're telling us," Entwistle said. "I think that's the key."