Analysis on the properties and emission characteristics of corn biodiesel subjected to improved transesterification

Abstract

This work investigates the impact on the application of microwave heating (MWH) on transesterification of corn oil and views its effect on engine emissions. Biodiesel (BD) is produced by two processes, namely conventional- and MWH-assisted transesterification. Both the process requires the same quantity of raw oil (corn oil), alcohol (methanol) and catalysts (KOH). BD prepared by the conventional process is referred to as corn oil biodiesel (CBD). In another technique, the heating process is replaced by MWH and thus the obtained BD is termed as CBDMW. Result found that CBD involves about 55 min for 67% yield, whereas the modified fuel (CBDMW) involved 2.5 min for 91% conversion. Emissions experiments were conducted on a diesel engine using CBD and CBDMW at the same circumstances. Experimental results show that the CBDMW has lesser CO (0.09–0.12 g/kWh), NO (0.8–1.5 g/kWh), HC emissions (0.09–0.25 g/kWh) and smoke emissions (0.4–0.45 BSU) than CBD due to its improved properties.