A highly efficient and cost-effective liquid biofuel for agricultural diesel engines from ternary blending of distilled Yang-Na (Dipterocarpus alatus) oil, waste cooking oil biodiesel, and petroleum diesel oil

Abstract

This study reports a highly efficient and cost-effective liquid biofuel for agricultural diesel engines by a ternary blending of waste cooking oil (WCO) biodiesel, distilled Yang-Na oil, and petroleum diesel oil. Biodiesel oil from WCO synthesized by NaOH-catalyzed pilot plant-scale solar reactor exhibited fuel properties that met ASTM-D6751 and EN-14214 standards. Crude Yang-Na was distilled at 280 oC to obtain distilled Yang-Na oil with major components of α-Gujernene (63.07 wt.%), α-Caryophyllene (19.08 wt.%), γ-Gujernene (5.16 wt.%), and γ-Elemene (5.23 wt.%), along with 7.46 wt.% of other hydrocarbon compounds. The ternary blendings of waste cooking oil (WCO) biodiesel, distilled Yang-Na oil, and petroleum diesel oil were formulated (50:30:20 and 50:25:25) and their physicochemical properties were evaluated and compared with a commercial B10 petroleum diesel oil. The formulated liquid biofuels met standards and closely resembled petroleum diesel with a viscosity of 3.86 cSt, density value of 876 kg m-3, and heating values of 9991 kcal/kg. The performance testing of the blended fuels in a small agricultural diesel engine showed the efficiency levels matched with a commercial B10 petroleum diesel oil and outperformed individual biodiesel and distilled Yang-Na oil. Variances in Brake Power and Brake Specific Fuel Consumption were <1% with low emissions of CO2, CO, HC, and NOx, while Engine Torque and biofuel consumption during cultivation showed differences of 3.42% and 2.54%, respectively. Accordingly, the obtained blended fuel is a promising option for community resource utilization, offering an alternative energy source for future communities.