I.M. Rizwanul Fattah

Biodiesel production, characterization, engine performance, and emission characteristics of Malaysian Alexandrian laurel oil

Biodiesel is a green fuel produced from renewable resources. It is a clean-burning alternative fuel, which has drawn the attention of energy researchers for the last two decades. This paper presents an experimental investigation on Alexandrian laurel oil as a potential feedstock for biodiesel development. Biodiesel was produced using a two-step esterification–transesterification process. Analysis of the physicochemical properties of diesel–biodiesel blends precedes the performance and emission study using 10% and 20% blends (ALB10 and ALB20). A 55 kW, 2.5 L, four-cylinder indirect injection diesel engine was used to carry out tests under conditions of constant load and varying speed. Brake power decreased 0.36–0.76%, and brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increased 2.42–3.20% for these blends. In general, the exhaust emission profile was much better compared to diesel except for NOx emission, which increased by 2.12–8.32% compared to diesel. Thus, from overall performance and emission characteristics, both the blends are prospective fuels for diesel engines.

State of the art of biodiesel production processes: a review of the heterogeneous catalyst

A broadened focus on energy, the fast growing value of petroleum oil, harmful atmospheric emissions because of the evolution of greenhouse gases, natural contamination, and quick reduction approaches to obtain fossil fuels are critical factors in the search for alternative energy sources. The need for developing renewable energy sources with fewer environmental effects is increasing because of the problems caused by the extensive use of fossil fuels. Currently, creating energy from low-carbon origins and introducing eco-friendly modern technology are the main targets of researchers in the field. Biodiesel has been identified as an alternative renewable liquid fuel source that can be derived through thermal cracking, esterification and transesterification of different triglycerides. Among these processes, the most popular and convenient technique for biodiesel production is the transesterification of triglyceride with the help of a suitable alcohol and a catalyst. Many scientists have introduced different types of catalysts to optimize the reaction conditions and the biodiesel production yields. Catalyst selection involves the determination of the water content and the free fatty acids in the oil. Homogeneous base catalysts provide faster reaction rates than homogeneous acid catalysts. Recently researchers have paid attention to heterogeneous catalysts because of their high activity, high selectivity, catalyst recovery, reusability, easy separation from the products, and water tolerance properties. Biocatalysts present significant advantages in terms of environmental issues over conventional alkali-catalyzed processes. This review article focuses on various technologies used for biodiesel production, as well as the benefits and limitations of the different types of catalysts in the relevant production technologies. We also conduct a comparative study of biocatalysts and homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in biodiesel production technologies at the laboratory scale, as well as their industrial applications.

Performance and emission analysis of a multi cylinder gasoline engine operating at different alcohol–gasoline blends

Alcohols are potential renewable alternatives for gasoline because of their bio-based origin. Although ethanol has been successfully implemented in many parts of the world, other alcohols may also be utilized, such as methanol, propanol, and butanol. These alcohols contain much energy and a high octane number. Furthermore, they displace petroleum. Therefore, this study focuses on methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol as gasoline fuel alternatives. We conducted tests in a four-cylinder gasoline engine under the wide open throttle condition at varying speeds and results. This engine was fueled with 20% methanol–80% gasoline (M20), 20% ethanol–80% gasoline (E20), 20% propanol–80% gasoline (P20), and 20% butanol–80% gasoline (B20). M20, E20, P20, and B20 displayed brake specific fuel consumptions levels and break thermal efficiencies that were higher than those of gasoline at 7.78%, 5.17%, 4.43%, and 1.95% and 3.6%, 2.15%, 0.7%, and 1.86%, respectively. P20 and B20 showed better torque than E20, but they consumed more fuel. Moreover, the alcohol–gasoline blends generated a higher peak in-cylinder pressure than pure gasoline. As gasoline fuel alternatives, propanol and butanol were more effective than gasoline in engines. In addition, the alcohol–gasoline blends also emitted less carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon than gasoline. However, E20 emitted more nitrogen oxide than the other alcohol–gasoline blends. Thus, propanol and butanol are more effective options than ethanol for a gasoline engine in terms of fuel properties, engine performance, and emissions.

Evaluation of n-butanol as an oxygenated additive to improve combustion-emission-performance characteristics of a diesel engine fuelled with a diesel-calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel blend

Alexandrian laurel or Calophyllum inophyllum oil is considered as one of the most forthcoming non-edible biodiesel sources in recent years. In the present study, the relative improvement of an Alexandrian laurel biodiesel–diesel blend (AL20) was attempted with the addition of 5–10% n-butanol (by vol), which is often used as an oxygenated cold starting additive. Constant 80 Nm torque at variable engine speed, ranging from 1000 to 3000 rpm was chosen as the operating condition on a 4-cylinder turbocharged, water cooled diesel engine. Brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) was measured to compare the performance of the test fuels quantitatively. Engine emissions such as unburned hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO) and smoke opacity were also measured. Alcoholic oxygenated additives like n-butanol generally reduces the in-cylinder temperature. Therefore, in-cylinder pressures of the test fuels were acquired and the heat release rates (HRR) were analyzed to unveil the characteristics of the combustion mechanism. Correlation of performance and emission was made to the combustion parameters to obtain a better understanding of the scenario. However, in a nut-shell, the investigation exposes the potential of n-butanol to be used as the modifier of the AL biodiesel–diesel blend in the context of combustion, performance and emission characteristics.

Production, characterization, engine performance and emission characteristics of Croton megalocarpus and Ceiba pentandra complementary blends in a single-cylinder diesel engine

Compounding energy demand and environmental issues necessitate suitable alternative or partial replacement of fossil fuels. Among the possible sources, biodiesel from non-edible vegetable oil sources is more economically feasible and possesses characteristics close to those of petroleum diesel. Two potential non-edible biodiesel feedstocks “Croton megalocarpus” and “Ceiba pentandra” were used for biodiesel production through esterification and transesterification process on a laboratory scale. Biodiesel characterization, engine performance and emission characteristics were investigated in an unmodified direct injection, naturally aspirated, single-cylinder diesel engine. 20% (v/v) of each of C. megalocarpus (CM), C. pentandra (CP) and their combined blends (CMB20, CPB20, CMB15CPB05, CMB10CPB10, and CMB05CPB15) were tested under varying engine speeds ranging from 1000 rpm to 2400 rpm at full load conditions. CMB20 and CPB20 reduced the brake power (BP) by 2.63% and 3.70%, brake thermal efficiency (BTE) by 5.97% and 3.72%, carbon monoxide (CO) emission by 1.09% and 2.39%, hydrocarbon (HC) emission by 1.48% and 4.62% and smoke emission by 12.35% and 17.13%, respectively compared to petroleum diesel. On the other hand, CMB20 and CPB20 increased the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by 9.74% and 7.63%, NOX emission by 13.19% and 15.45%, respectively. A mixture of 10% of both biodiesels with diesels (CMB10CPB10) provides better performance and emission characteristics. CMB10CPB10 reduced BP, BTE, CO, HC and smoke by 0.53%, 0.50%, 5.21%, 8.38% and 20.71%, respectively and increased BSFC and NOX by 3.90% and 18.66%, respectively compared to conventional diesel. A combined blend of CM and CP could be a sustainable substitute for fossil diesel in the context of performance and emission.

Evaluation of rice bran, sesame and moringa oils as feasible sources of biodiesel and the effect of blending on their physicochemical properties

Globally, the environmental awareness is driving the research towards energy resources that are more beneficial to milieu. Biofuel is considered to be a remarkable option for that. Among the sources of biofuels, vegetable oils are the cheapest, easily available and in abundant quantity. However, some processes are needed to make vegetable oils suitable for engines because vegetable oils have certain detrimental properties. In this study, three potential feedstocks, namely, moringa, sesame and rice bran oils are critically investigated as potential sources for biodiesel production. The work was divided into several steps: firstly, the production of biodiesel from the three feedstocks; secondly, the measurement of the important physical and chemical properties of biodiesels; and finally, the development of mathematical equations with the help of polynomial curve fitting method for biodiesel–diesel and biodiesel–biodiesel blends to predict the most important properties, such as kinematic viscosity, flash point, calorific value, CFPP of the blended biodiesel. The experiment has shown that the three feedstocks can be considered to be feasible sources for biodiesel. It is seen from the experiment that biodiesel blends have notable effect on properties; for instance, the viscosity of the rice bran oil is improved to 5.1631 mm2 s−1 from 5.3657 mm2 s−1, when mixed with sesame biodiesel at a volume ratio of 3 : 1. Moreover, it is improved to 5.0921 mm2 s−1, when mixed with moringa biodiesel at a volume ratio of 3 : 1. Moreover, flash point and CFPP of rice bran biodiesel are also improved, when mixed with sesame or moringa biodiesel in any percentage.

Rice bran: A prospective resource for biodiesel production in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT The increasing demand of renewable energy sources has pressed the need to search for biofuels. The world is not only thrusting for potential sources of biofuels but also surveilling not to hamper the food supply, particularly in the Third World countries, such as Bangladesh. Rice bran oil is a prominent source of biofuels. Rice, the main cereal in Bangladesh, is cultivated all the year round. Rice hull containing bran is mostly wasted and merely used as feedstock for cattle and for cooking purposes. This study considered rice bran as a prospective source of biodiesel in Bangladesh. The properties of oil collected from rice bran were investigated to ensure the production of biodiesel by transesterification. An economic analysis relative to Bangladesh was conducted, and the production rate of biodiesel under different percentage of catalyst was investigated.

Effect of synthetic antioxidants on storage stability of Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel

Abstract Biofuels, especially biodiesels derived from renewable sources, are becoming increasingly important because of environmental and energy concerns. However, biodiesels composed of long chain unsaturated fatty acid esters are prone to oxidation. One such biodiesel is non-edible high acid value Calophyllum inophyllum oil-based biodiesel produced through a two-stage esterification process and one-stage transesterification process. In this study, the oxidation stability of biodiesel treated with three prominent antioxidants, namely pyrogallol, propyl gallate and tert-butylhydroxyquinone was evaluated. The induction period of biodiesel with or without antioxidant was measured according to the EN14112 standard using a Rancimat instrument. Antioxidants were added at 500 ppm, which in general improved the induction period. The samples were kept for 70 days and different properties that change during storage, namely induction period, density and kinematic viscosity were monitored. For all samples, oxidation stability decreased and kinematic viscosity increased because of the formation of oxidation products. Pyrogallol showed the best effect in retaining oxidation stability of Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel.

Experimental Investigation of a Multicylinder Unmodified Diesel Engine Performance, Emission, and Heat Loss Characteristics Using Different Biodiesel Blends: Rollout of B10 in Malaysia

This paper deals with the performance and emission analysis of a multicylinder diesel engine using biodiesel along with an in-depth analysis of the engine heat losses in different subsystems followed by the energy balance of all the energy flows from the engine. Energy balance analysis allows the designer to appraise the internal energy variations of a thermodynamic system as a function of ‘‘energy flows” across the control volume as work or heat and also the enthalpies associated with the energy flows which are passing through these boundaries. Palm and coconut are the two most potential biodiesel feed stocks in this part of the world. The investigation was conducted in a four-cylinder diesel engine fuelled with 10% and 20% blends of palm and coconut biodiesels and compared with B5 at full load condition and in the speed range of 1000 to 4000 RPM. Among the all tested blends, palm blends seemed more promising in terms of engine performance, emission, and heat losses. The influence of heat losses on engine performance and emission has been discussed thoroughly in this paper.