Ethanol Blends Research Articles

Kefir: a comprehensive overview of microbiological, physicochemical, and health-promoting properties

Kefir is a naturally carbonated and mildly acidic milk beverage fermented by grains that consist of bacteria and yeast living in a symbiotic relationship. Its unique flavor arises from a blend of lactic acid, ethanol, carbon dioxide, and other compounds produced by the microorganisms within the kefir grains. The microorganisms in kefir are a complex microbial population that varies by geographical region. Kefir is widely acknowledged for its probiotic content, with reported health benefits that include modulation of intestinal microflora, immune system stimulation, and antimicrobial, antineoplastic, hypocholesterolemic, antidiabetic, and antimutagenic effects. It also exhibits β-galactosidase activity and benefits lipid and blood pressure levels. This review focuses on the microbiological aspects, composition, and production of milk kefir, highlighting how its biological properties correlate with the health benefits associated with its consumption.

Characterization of Kariya (Hildegardia barteri (Mast.) Kosterm) Seed Oil Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Prepared from Basic Catalytic Transesterification

The rising global energy demand, alongside concerns regarding environmental deterioration due to the use of fossil fuels, has spurred extensive investigation into renewable energy alternatives. Biomass-derived biodiesel, especially from lesser-known oil sources, emerges as a promising option. This research focuses on analyzing the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) derived from Kariya (Hildegardia barteri (Mast.) Kosterm) seed oil through basic catalytic transesterification using gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC–FID) analysis, assessing its potential as a biodiesel feedstock. Oil extraction from Kariya seeds was carried out using three solvents (n-hexane, ethanol, and a 1:1 blend of hexane and ethanol), followed by transesterification with methanol. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC–FID analyses were utilized to identify and quantify FAMEs in the resulting biodiesel. The results revealed various FAMEs, including methyl myristate, methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and methyl linolenate. Significant differences in FAME composition were observed among the samples, with hexane–ethanol Kariya oil biodiesel (HE-KOB) showing the highest FAME content (76.1%). This combination of solvents exhibited synergistic effects on the composition of HE-KOB, suggesting potential optimization strategies for biodiesel production. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) provided additional insights into the molecular composition of the biodiesel samples, confirming their biodiesel nature through the identified functional groups such as methyl, methylene, hydrocarbon, ester, aldehyde, and alkene. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for thermal decomposition also gave an insight into FAME composition and its contribution to the degree of conversion of biodiesel to energy. These findings highlight the feasibility of utilizing Kariya seed oil as a biodiesel feedstock, emphasizing the importance of solvent selection and transesterification conditions in optimizing FAME yield and composition. This research contributes to the exploration of underutilized oil sources for sustainable biodiesel production, aligning with the global shift towards cleaner and renewable energy sources.

India’s Growing Ethanol Blending Program and Implications of Scalable and Sustainable Methanol Blending Program for Transport Sector

India’s Growing Ethanol Blending Program and Implications of Scalable and Sustainable Methanol Blending Program for Transport Sector

Effect of Adding Mg(OH)<sub>2</sub> Additives to Polyethersulfone (PES) Hydrophobic Membranes

Polyether sulfone (PES) stands as a widely utilized polymeric membrane in separation technology. However, due to certain undesirable drawbacks encountered in its application, researchers consistently strive to enhance its characteristics and performance. In this study, we delve into the effects of Mg(OH)2 addition on the characteristics and performance of PES membranes employed for humic acid removal from water. The membrane fabrication involves PES as the primary polymer, NMP as the solvent, and a blend of ethanol and water as non-solvents. Characterization of the membranes encompasses the assessment of functional groups via FTIR, morphological structure through SEM imaging, and porosity evaluation. Notably, the Mg(OH)2 additive exerted a positive influence on the prepared PES membranes, leading to discernible alterations in the morphological structure, as evident in SEM cross-sectional images. The augmentation of Mg(OH)2 concentration resulted in increased membrane porosity. The FTIR spectra revealed the presence of water derived from Mg(OH)2 crystals. The research yielded notable results, with the most outstanding membrane exhibiting a pure water flux of 41.6 L/m2·h and a rejection rate of 71%. Furthermore, it displayed a Water Flux Recovery Ratio (FRR) of 72%. These findings underscore the effectiveness of incorporating Mg(OH)2 as an additive in enhancing the performance of PES membranes for humic acid removal, with promising implications for water purification applications.

Natural Bleach Using Lemon Peel

Commercial bleach, as indicated by Yosi Santika Silitonga et al. in 2020, contains chemicals designed to eliminate dirt and stains. In light of this, a solution involving natural bleach derived from lemon peel has been suggested for cleaning purposes. This natural bleach can be produced by synthesizing lemon peel as the primary ingredient and combining it with ethanol and vinegar. The blend of lemon peel, ethanol, and vinegar forms an effective natural bleach agent. Experimental tests were carried out to assess the bleaching efficiancy of lemon peel extract on cotton fabric by varying the amounts of lemon peel in each mixture. Seven different doses of natural agents were tested for each bleach mixture. The findings demonstrated that lemon peel extract is proficient in lightening fabric color and removing stains while preserving fabric integrity, owing to the presence of citric acid in lemon peel which acts as a natural cleaning agent. Citric acid aids in dirt and grime removal, as well as providing a bleaching effect on fabrics, while ethanol functions as an additional cleaning agent and solvent. Additionally, vinegar with its acidic properties contributes to the bleaching process. The study also examined various parameters such as pH levels, the duration needed for lemon peel to eliminate stains on cotton fabric, and the toxicity of the bleach. Time measurements were taken during cotton cloth stain removal tests using natural bleach, based on the quantity of doses applied. Consequently, the bleach testing revealed that the most effective dose for dirt removal is a hundred grams of lemon peel, achieving stain removal within two minutes. It was observed that increasing the amount of lemon peel led to faster dirt removal, showcasing accelerated stain elimination on fabric and delivering a notably clean outcome. In summary, lemon peel extract presents a sustainable alternative with potent bleaching properties. The advantages of natural bleach encompass efficient cleaning without residual harmful chemicals, promoting environmentally conscious practices.

Numerical simulation of a DISI engine with a reduced chemical kinetic mechanism for gasoline–ethanol blends

Numerical simulation of a DISI engine with a reduced chemical kinetic mechanism for gasoline–ethanol blends

Dynamic mechanism of biodiesel-ethanol-graphene droplets during micro-explosion and puffing: droplet evaporation, distribution and velocity characteristics

Adding graphene to biodiesel and ethanol blends can significantly improve the combustion efficiency, which can significantly reduce pollutant emissions when applied to alternative engine fuels. The study of the droplet dynamic properties of biodiesel-ethanol-graphene blends can help to aid in a deeper understanding of the properties of the fuel, which in turn can provide a theoretical basis for the application of the fuel. In this paper, a modified tube furnace experimental platform was used to investigate the evaporation, micro-explosion, and dynamic properties of parent and child droplets of biodiesel-ethanol-graphene. The micro-explosion and dynamics mechanisms of the parent droplets and child droplets of the blended fuel were further investigated in terms of graphene content, ambient temperature and biodiesel/ethanol blend proportion. During the research, three modes of bubble growth in droplet were proposed, the number and velocity of child droplets and the intensity of micro-explosion were found to have a positive correlation trend. It is found that BD50E50(1%G) droplets show high micro-explosion effect and evaporation rate, and can be considered as a sustainable alternative fuel for airlines or oil companies. The movement law of mixed droplets is analyzed, and the internal conditions and external characterization parameters of micro-explosion are summarized.

Evaluation of engine performance and emissions using blends of gasoline, ethanol, and fusel oil

Evaluation of engine performance and emissions using blends of gasoline, ethanol, and fusel oil

Meeting India’s ethanol blending goals: forecasting demand and addressing supply shortages

Meeting India’s ethanol blending goals: forecasting demand and addressing supply shortages

Experimental study of the impacts of sustainable corrosion inhibitor on aluminum in diesel biodiesel ethanol blends

This study investigates the effectiveness of Tea Tree Oil (TTO) in preventing aluminum corrosion in diesel-biodiesel–ethanol blends and identifies its optimal concentration for corrosion inhibition. Aluminum corrosion in these fuel blends presents a significant challenge for the automotive and transportation industries. To address this, aluminum specimens were immersed in fuel blends containing varying TTO concentrations (0–5%) for 600 and 900 h. Corrosion rates were measured through weight loss, and surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that TTO significantly inhibited corrosion, with its effectiveness increasing proportionally to its concentration. At a 5% TTO concentration, weight loss reduction reached 90.5%, and the corrosion rate decreased by 90.9% over 600 h. Inhibition efficiency peaked at 90.48% for the same concentration and duration. SEM analysis confirmed these findings, revealing improved surface preservation with increasing TTO concentration, with the 5% sample exhibiting an almost pristine surface. This study demonstrates that TTO is a highly effective and sustainable corrosion inhibitor for aluminum in diesel–biodiesel–ethanol blends. Its performance suggests that it could be a viable alternative to traditional corrosion inhibitors, with significant implications for enhancing the durability of aluminum components in biofuel systems and promoting environmentally friendly fuel alternatives.

Optimization of ethanol and methanol blends for enhanced performance and reduced emissions in BS-VI compliant motorbike engines

Optimization of ethanol and methanol blends for enhanced performance and reduced emissions in BS-VI compliant motorbike engines

Impacts of low-temperature heat release on unstretched laminar burning velocity in advanced flex-fuel gasoline-ethanol engines

Improving brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of flex-fuel engines can contribute to decarbonizing conventional and hybridized vehicles running on spark-ignited (SI) engines. High compression ratio (CR) and burning velocity under exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) conditions can improve the engine BTE. Ethanol fuel, which has been attracting increasing attention recently, can improve brake thermal efficiency due to its high-octane number and fast laminar burning velocity (LBV). With higher CRs, low-temperature heat release (LTHR) occurs in the unburned mixture, which affects the compositions, oxidation, and in-cylinder temperature. Such thermodynamic changes on unstretched LBV have not been thoroughly investigated, especially in production-intent next-generation flex-fuel engines. This study aims to clarify the LTHR impacts on LBV under EGR conditions using ethanol-blended gasoline surrogate fuel SI engines. The testbed used a single-cylinder SI engine fueled by E0 (gasoline surrogate), E20 (20 % ethanol + 80 % E0 by volume), E40, E60, E85, and E100. Detailed chemical reaction calculations were conducted using the boundary conditions obtained from production-intent, strong-tumble flow, and flex-fuel engine experiments. This work predicted LTHR in an unburned mixture using a zero-dimensional detailed chemical reaction calculation. LBV is predicted by a 1D kinetic laminar flame code. As a result, LTHR proceeds before the main combustion. The results show that the temperature increase associated with LTHR increases the burning velocity, while the partial oxidants decrease the burning velocity. Moreover, this work examined higher CRs using detailed chemical reaction calculations, and the results show that fuels with higher ethanol blending ratios can increase LBV in the late combustion phase.

A Review on Performance and Emissions Measurements of Ethanol Blends for Gasoline Engines

Vehicles have been running on alcohol since the 19th century. Ethanol is considered the most environmentally friendly, biological, and sustainable fuel in SI engines among all alcoholic beverages. This paper addresses Gasoline-Ethanol (GE) blends' performance as a biofuel in a typical SI engine. This article covers and evaluates the physical characteristics of Ethanol (E), its production process, as well as the performance effects of different ethanol-based gasoline blends. The article focuses on the engine BT, BSFC, volumetric efficiency, and thermal efficiency related to exhaust emissions, including CO2, CO, NOx, and HC, which are currently major issues. The benefits and drawbacks of utilizing Ethanol (E) fuel for SI engines were also studied. The overall BTHE, HRR, volumetric efficiency, and cylinder gas pressure of a blend with a higher percentage of ethanol fuel improved. The amount of Ethanol (E) in the mixture has an impact on the Compression Ratio (CR) required for ignition.

Studi penambahan chemical pada produk migas guna mengurangi dampak negatif terhadap lingkungan proses distribusi

The distribution of fuel impacts the environment through emissions and combustion residues. This study evaluates hydrocarbon compounds in petroleum products with ethanol addition to enhance octane ratings and reduce emissions. Gravimetric methods assessed ash content, FTIR analyzed organic compound absorption via functional groups, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry measured toluene levels through absorbance. Results showed ethanol blending with biodiesel reduced ash content from 74.48 mg/L to 64.99 mg/L, a 9.4% decrease, indicating a positive environmental impact. UV-Vis analysis revealed increased toluene content, reflecting higher octane value and potential emission reductions. Additionally, blending Pertamax with ethanol showed increased oxygenated compounds, such as alcohols and esters, at a 1600 nm wavelength. In conclusion, adding ethanol positively affects the environment by reducing emissions and improving octane ratings. However, further analysis is needed to comprehensively assess its environmental impact.

Numerical Investigations on Reducing Unburned Hydrocarbon and Carbon Monoxide Emissions in Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition Using Partial Reactivity Stratification with Alternative Fuels and Additive

<div>A numerical investigation has been performed in the current work on reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI), a low-temperature combustion (LTC) strategy that is beneficial for achieving lower oxides of nitrogen (NO<sub>x</sub>) and soot emission. A light-duty diesel engine was modified to run in RCCI mode. Experimental data were acquired using diesel as HRF (high-reactivity fuel) and gasoline as LRF (low reactivity fuel) to check the accuracy and fidelity of predicted results. Blends of ethanol and gasoline with DTBP (di-tert-butyl peroxide) addition in a small fraction on an energy basis were used in numerical simulations to promote ignitability and reactivity enhancement of PFI charge. Achieving stable, smooth, and gradual combustion in RCCI is challenging at low loads, especially in light-duty engines, due to misfiring and poor combustion stability. DTBP is known for enhancing cetane number and accelerating combustion, and it is mixed in a PFI blend to avoid combustion deterioration. The factors governing reactivity stratification to achieve optimal combustion phasing were investigated in the present study. DTBP decomposition and its low-temperature oxidation chemistry were found to be responsible for affecting combustion phasing, heat release patterns, and emission trends. DTBP additive and different in-cylinder strategies were applied and studied to reduce unburned emissions. Adopting a multiple injection approach utilizing dual-pulse assisted in reducing HC and CO levels. It enhances combustion quality by providing adequate control over combustion phasing. Altering operating parameters like intake temperatures reduced HC, CO, and soot emissions by 97.6%, 57.6%, and 52.8%, respectively, compared to baseline gasoline/diesel RCCI data. Optimizing the injection timings of the first and second pulse helps achieve optimal combustion phasing and a 72.95% reduction in NO<sub>x</sub> emissions. The higher injection pressure of DI helped lower the CO and soot emissions by 53.33% and 51.84%, respectively.</div>

Performance of anhydrous ethanol and gasoline blends on a SI engine: Decoupling evaporation enthalpy and knock resistance

Blending bioethanol with gasoline is recognized as a rapid solution for mitigating nonrenewable carbon dioxide emissions. This approach proves particularly meaningful in markets where the production of this biofuel aligns with sustainable practices. Understanding the alterations in the combustion process holds significance within these markets, contributing to informed decision-making and fostering environmentally conscious practices. In this context, it is widely known that highly ethanol blended fuels can provide benefits regarding suppression of knocking combustion in spark ignited engines if the quality of the base-fuel is not deteriorated to maintain octane ratings. However, the results of engine knocking investigations can be affected by two effects simultaneously. Firstly, ethanol has a beneficial effect on knock suppression due to its high enthalpy of evaporation compared to gasoline, which results in inner mixture cooling especially with direct injection. Secondly, ethanol can have beneficial effects on knock suppression by its decreased self-ignition tendency. This paper provides the set-up and results of an adapted engine testing procedure to diminish the effects of evaporation enthalpy during the knocking investigations of different highly ethanol blended fuels. The presented testing procedure at a single-cylinder research engine includes three technical steps: (1) the engine is equipped with a port fuel injection in stoichiometric operation for all tested fuels; (2) the engine is operated with constant speed of 1500 rpm and constant spark timing of 33° firing top dead center; (3) the engine is operated with fuel individual settings for the intake manifold gas pressure and intake manifold gas temperature. These parameters are adjusted to test all fuels with similar in-cylinder conditions at spark timing. The differing heating values of the fuels obviously result in differing engine loads. However, the presented testing procedure is aimed to achieve comparable in-cylinder conditions at spark timing without the effect of evaporation enthalpy. The novelty of the study lies in its adapted engine testing procedure that mitigates the cross-effects of fuel properties and operational conditions to isolate the true influences on knock occurrence. The paper provides a comprehensive description of the theoretical backgrounds, experimental set-up and post-processing procedures and also shows the results of the first measurement campaign.

Life Cycle Assessment of Bioethanol Produced from Banana Peduncle

Abstract Biofuel production has been promoted in part to reduce dependency on fossil fuels in transportation due to fewer environmental emissions. Feedstocks for biofuels include agricultural waste and non-edible crops, suggesting that large amounts of waste can be used to produce biofuels such as bioethanol, which is currently being blended with gasoline in the Philippines as transportation fuel. However, shifting from non-renewable fuels to bioethanol and other biofuels as the dominant transportation fuel must consider aspects other than fuel usage. The objectives of this study are to perform cradle-to-grave life cycle analysis on bioethanol produced from banana peduncle and determine the contributions of each stage in the life cycle to different environmental impacts and compare the results with those of other transport fuels. The contributions of each stage in the life cycle of bioethanol are modelled in openLCA software with the ReCiPe impact assessment method. It was identified that electricity use in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, and sulfuric acid consumption are the main contributors to the different environmental impacts. Comparison of the results of banana peduncle bioethanol production stage to those of the first-generation bioethanol production showed that most of the emissions were lower except for those pertaining to freshwater ecotoxicity, human toxicity, marine ecotoxicity, and metal depletion. Comparing fuel use, environmental impacts of conventional gasoline were slightly lower than those of a 10% mix with bioethanol. But impacts of the 85% mix with bioethanol in climate change and marine eutrophication are higher by 29% and 37%, respectively, than those of conventional gasoline. Overall, increasing the ethanol concentration would reduce the emissions during fuel usage but impacts of production will increase. Potential process improvements for environmental performance of bioethanol from banana peduncle are in the pre-treatment methods and fermentation set-up in bioethanol production, use of renewable power, and ethanol blending concentrations with gasoline.

Investigating the emissions and performance of ethanol and biodiesel blends on Al2O3 thermal barrier coated piston engine using response surface methodology design - multiparametric optimization

The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) optimization technique was used to examine the effect of load, Tomato Methyl Ester (TOME), and Ethanol injection enhanced diesel on engine performance and exhaust gas emissions with a normal piston and an Al2O3 coated piston. TOME biodiesel (10, 20, and 30%) and ethanol (10, 20, and 30%) were chosen to increase BTE while minimizing BSFC, NOx, CO, smoke, and HC. The RSM technique was used to operate the engine by load (0–100%). The results revealed that engine load, TOME, and ethanol concentration all exhibited a considerable effect on the response variables. The ANOVA results for the established quadratic models specified that for each model, an ideal was discovered by optimizing an experiment's user-defined historical design. The present research efforts to improve the performance of a diesel engine by using a thermal barrier-coated piston that runs on biodiesel blends. Al2O3 is the chosen material for TBC due to its excellent thermal insulation properties. B20E30 has a 4% higher brake thermal efficiency than diesel, but B10E20 and B30E20 mixes have a 3.6% and 12% reduction in BSFC. The B20 blends lowered CO and HC emissions by 6% and 8% respectively. In terms of performance and emissions, biodiesel blends performed similarly to pure diesel, and the combination was optimized through the design of an experiment tool.

Karakteristik Pembakaran Droplet Campuran Metil Oleat – Etanol dengan Penambahan Multi -Walled Carbon Nanotubes

This research intended to investigate the combustion characteristics of methyl oleic – ethanol blend with OH functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-OH) addition. Methyl oleic is an unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester, which is a constituent of various biodiesels. The observed fuel was a mixture of Methyl oleic with 20% vol of ethanol. MWCNT-OH content was varied by 100 ppm, 200 ppm, 300 ppm, 400 ppm, and 500 ppm (wt based). The presence of ethanol in the droplets is intended to promote the microexplosion phenomenon, generating smaller droplets and a shorter burning time. The experimental results show that the MWCNT-OH addition on the droplet of Methyl oleic – ethanol blend decreased the ignition delay and droplet burning time, while the constant burning rate and droplet temperature (and flame temperature) were increased. Reducing ignition delay time due to the higher thermal conductivity of nanofluid droplets results in more effective heat absorption from the environment and better heat transport inside the droplet. Hence, droplet vaporization, flammable mixture formation and ignition occur in a shorter time. Furthermore, this condition encourages a higher burning rate and a lower droplet burning time. The higher droplet and flame temperatures are related to the higher heating value of the methyl oleic – ethanol – MWCNT-OH mixture and higher droplet burning rate, which results in a higher heat release rate.

An experimental investigation of the impacts of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and ethanol on performance and emission characteristics on diesel engines run with castor Biodiesel ethanol blended fuel

Investigating the impact of ethanol and TiO2 on the performance and emission characteristics of diesel engines running on a blend of ethanol and castor biodiesel is the primary goal of this study. The nanoparticles of ethanol, biodiesel, and TiO2 diesel fuel were combined at several concentrations. Diesel, B10, B20, B30, B10E10T, B20E10T, B30E10T, B10E20T, B20E20T, and B30E20T were among the various fuels that were investigated. The physiochemical properties of all the sample fuels were assessed, including density, pour point, cloud point, fire point, flash point, and kinematic viscosity. Following this, other engine performance indicators, such as torque, power, and fuel-consumption, were examined. Studies were also carried out on the properties of emissions, including CO, CO2, HC, and NO. Peak braking power and engine torque were found for each fuel under investigation at around 2750 and 2500 rpm, respectively. The addition reduced the brake-specific fuel consumption for B10E20T by 7.41 % while increasing the braking engine's torque and power by 8.64 and 3.86 %, respectively, in compared to blends without the TiO2 additions. When compared to diesel, the exhaust emission data without the addition of TiO2 revealed a decrease in CO and HC emissions but an increase in CO2 and NO emissions. On the other hand, using ethanol blend reduced NO emissions. According to the overall findings, diesel engine performance, combustion characteristics, and exhaust gas emissions were enhanced averagely by 7.43 % when a certain ratio of ethanol, biodiesel, and TiO2 additives (B10E20 + 50 ppm) was used.