Biodiesel Production from Moringa oleifera Oil and Its Characteristics as Fuel in a Diesel Engine

Abstract

Biodiesel is emerging as a promising source for alternative energy, owing to the increasing demand for fuel derived from fossil fuel resources. For developing countries like India, biodiesel can help reduce the dependency on the fossil fuel being imported. Present study is focused on the production of biodiesel from a nonedible oil source (Moringa oleifera) along with the engine testing of its blends as fuel. A single-step transesterification process is carried out for the extraction of biodiesel from M. oleifera oil with NaOH as catalyst. Properties of biodiesel extracted are tested and met the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. Engine performance and exhaust emission characteristics of 10, 15, 20 (%vol.) biodiesel blends and diesel are examined on a four-stroke diesel engine at compression ratio of 16. An average increase in brake power of 2.2 % and decrease in brake thermal efficiency of 3.7 % is observed for biodiesel blends compared to diesel. Overall increase in brake specific fuel consumption of 4.1 % for biodiesel blends is observed compared to diesel. On an average carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions of biodiesel blends decreased by 4.9 and 74.4 %, respectively, compared to diesel. Carbon dioxide and NOx emissions of biodiesel blends increased by 19.5 and 13.9 %, respectively, on an average compared to diesel. M. oleifera can be considered as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production and used as diesel engine fuel without making any engine modifications.