A Comparative Study of Engine Performance and Exhaust Emissions of Biodiesel and Its Blends Produced from Waste Cooking Oil and Neutralized Waste Cooking Oil

Abstract

In this present study, the neutralization process was applied in waste cooking oil (WCO), and neutralized waste cooking oil (NWCO) was derived and the physical properties of WCO and NWCO were designated. Waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCOB) and neutralized waste cooking oil biodiesel (NWCOB) were produced from these oils by using the transesterification method. The acquired biodiesels were blended with Euro Diesel (ED) volumetrically in the rates of 20% and 2% and fuels in the forms of B20 (20%WCOB+80% ED), B2 (2%WCOB+98% ED), B20N (20% NWCOB+80% ED) and B2N (2% NWCOB+98% ED) were derived and the properties of all of these fuels were designated. The derived fuels were tested in a single cylinder diesel engine and compared with ED and their torques, powers, specific fuel consumptions, CO, CO2, HC, NO and smoke intensities were investigated. In conclusion, by comparing the engine performance of NWCOB and WCOB, it was found that the maximum torque, maximum power and minimum specific fuel consumption values increased in the rates of 1.81, 2.64 and 6.47%, respectively. By comparing their exhaust emissions, it was found that the biodiesel fuels were more environmental friendly in comparison to the diesel fuels and their CO, HC and smoke intensity were lower, and their NO and CO2 emissions were somewhat higher. When the neutralization process was applied to WCO, its emission values improved and this illustrated that NWCOB was more environmental friendly in comparison to WCOB.