A comparative study of diesel engine fueled by Jatropha and Castor biodiesel: Performance, emissions, and sustainability assessment

Abstract

The increasing scarcity of fossil fuels and environmental concerns have driven the search for sustainable alternatives, such as biodiesel. This study aims to evaluate the performance, emissions, and sustainability of biodiesel derived from Jatropha and Castor seeds when used in diesel engines. Biodiesel production was achieved through the transesterification process, addressing atomization challenges, and enhancing combustion efficiency. The research compared various blends of biodiesel and conventional diesel fuel (B20, B40, and B60) across different engine loads, from no load to full load. Key findings revealed that biodiesel blends exhibited comparable properties to conventional diesel. Jatropha biodiesel showed superior performance and lower emissions compared to Castor biodiesel. The B20 blend consistently demonstrated the best performance and reduced emissions across all engine loads. Specifically, biodiesel resulted in lower brake thermal efficiency (BTE), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbon (HC), and smoke emissions compared to conventional diesel, but higher exhaust gas temperature (EGT), brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The increase in NOx emissions was linked to higher EGT, while other emissions were influenced by the biodiesel’s viscosity and cetane number. The study concluded that the B20 blend of Jatropha and Castor biodiesel offers a viable alternative to conventional diesel, reducing CO2 and CO emissions by 22–10 % and increasing NOx emissions by 8 %. These results suggest significant potential for biodiesel to contribute to sustainable transportation, highlighting the importance of optimizing biodiesel blends for improved engine performance and lower environmental impact. These findings highlight the promising potential of Jatropha and Castor biodiesel as substitutes for diesel fuel, indicating advancements in fuel technology.