The invention relates to a method of increasing the oxidation stability of biodiesel, which comprises adding a primary antioxidant having a melting point of less than or equal to 40° C. to the biodiesel to be stabilized in an amount of from 10 to 20 000 ppm (w/w), where the primary antioxidant comprises at least one compound having the structure
where:
- R1, R2=hydrogen, a linear alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or
where * is a carbon atom of the aromatic ring system,
R3, R5=hydrogen, a linear alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R4=hydrogen, a linear alkyl group having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, where both the substituents of the type R1 and R2 and those of the type R3 and R5 are in each case identical or different.