Laboratory and Field — Crude Oil

Biodiesel is a renewable alternative to fossil diesel, but its oxidative degradation remains a major obstacle. This process, driven by free radicals, reduces stability, increases acidity, and threatens engine performance. 

Here, we highlight three important studies that applied ESR to biodiesel research — from tracking free radical formation to evaluating the role of antioxidants.

Crude oil quality is determined by its chemical composition, and two components stand out as particularly influential: asphaltenes and vanadium complexes. Asphaltenes are the heaviest fraction of crude oil, consisting of polyaromatic cores with aliphatic side chains and trace metals. Even in small concentrations they tend to aggregate, increasing viscosity, plugging pipelines, and deactivating catalysts during refining. Vanadium, often present as vanadyl porphyrins, is a known catalyst poison and a geochemical fingerprint of oil origin and degradation. Because these fractions directly impact flow assurance, refining efficiency, and ultimately crude oil value, accurate monitoring is essential. Why ESR? A Direct Window into...