Preparation and characterization of microemulsion fuels from diesel and model compound of walnut shell pyrolysis oil

Abstract

In this study, a bio-oil model compound of walnut shell pyrolysis oil was selected. The microemulsions of diesel and model compound were produced using Span80 and Tween 80 as surfactants. The microemulsions were quantificationally analyzed to investigate the solubilization capacity of bio-oil characteristic components in diesel. The effects of surfactant concentration and initial volume ratio of bio-oil model compound to diesel (B/D ratio) on the solubilization capacity of bio-oil characteristic components in diesel were investigated. The heating value, kinematic viscosity, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis of microemulsion were also conducted. Experimental results indicated that the suitable concentration of surfactant was 0.3 mol/L–0.45 mol/L, and the optimum B/D ratio was 4:12 for the bio-oil model compound. The dissolubility of m-cresol and guaiacol in microemulsion was much better than that of water and acetic acid. The heating value and the kinematic viscosity of microemulsion decreased slightly as the B/D ratio increased. Increasing the surfactant concentration contributed to a more pronounced increase in the kinetic viscosity and a significant decrease in the heating value. The influence of surfactant concentration on the fuel properties and thermogravimetric characteristics was stronger than that of B/D ratio.