Comparative study of vehicular pollution load of biodiesel and conventional diesel fuel at north east Karnataka state road transport corporation, Gulbarga

Abstract

The study mainly deals with the causes of air pollution in Gulbarga related to buses. Particularly it focuses on the suggestion to curb the vehicular pollution by the use of biodiesel. The pollution loads have been calculated and compared by considering usage of the biodiesel in place of conventional diesel fuel in buses. For the purpose of this study, the three depots of the NE-Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, Gulbarga's were considered. The three depots consists of 86+101+117=304 buses. These buses run on diesel fuel and are responsible for largest amount of lead emissions and various other pollutants. The pollution loads were calculated on the basis of information collected from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Environment Protection Agency and previous studies carried out in this regard by various important agencies. The use of Biodiesel shows tremendous reduction in various pollutants. By the use of B20 Bio-diesel we can reduce total unburnt hydrocarbons to 20%, Carbon monoxide to 12%, PM10 and PM25 to 12%, NOx +2 or −2%, SO2 to 20%. By the use of B100 Bio-diesel we can reduce total unburnt hydrocarbons to 67%, Carbon monoxide to 48%, PM10 and PM25 to 47%, NOx +10 or −2%, SO2 to 100%.