Fractional Distillation Research Articles

Hydrothermal Treatment of the Pristine and Contaminated Cd/Zn Hyperaccumulators for Bio-Oil Production and Heavy Metal Separation

Hydrothermal conversion is a promising technology to dispose of biomass wastes. To achieve the harmless treatment of heavy metal (HM) hyperaccumulators and production of bio-oil, hydrothermal conversion of two types of Sedum alfredii [i.e., uncontaminated S. alfredii (SAL) and the harvested S. alfredii after phytoremediation (SAH)] at 210–300 °C was conducted in this study. Only 0.53–1.59% of Cd and 0.34–5.94% of Zn in SAH migrated to bio-oils, which were much lower than those in hydrochar and the aqueous products. High hydrothermal conversion temperature promoted the bio-oil yield, and the S. alfredii-derived bio-oils showed considerable higher heating values (32.07–33.83 MJ/kg). The main components of bio-oils were aliphatic hydrocarbons, followed by oxygen-containing compounds (e.g., alcohols, phenols, and ketones/aldehydes) and nitrogen-containing compounds. The bio-oils derived from SAL contained a higher content of aliphatic hydrocarbons (56.39–60.11%) and N-containing compounds (9.03–15.17%), while the SAH-derived bio-oils had more ketones/aldehydes (15.17–19.79%), which could be ascribed to the component difference of feedstocks and the catalytic effect of Zn. Moreover, the distillable fraction (boiling point <538 °C) in the bio-oils was up to 79.89–86.90%. These results suggest that hydrothermal conversion of S. alfredii could be a promising technique for the HM separation and value-added bio-oil production.

Influence of Distillation Methods, Times and Fractions on Essential Oil Contents and Compounds in Turkish Oregano (Origanum onites L.)

Bu araştırma, İzmir kekiği olarak bilinen Türk kekiğinin (Origanum onites L.) farklı distilasyon yöntemleri ile distilasyon süresi ve fraksiyon dilimlerinin uçucu yağ verimi ve kompozisyonu üzerine etkisinin belirlenmesi amacıyla Isparta Uygulamalı Bilimler Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Tarla Bitkileri Bölümünde 2014 yılında yürütülmüştür. Araştırmada pilot tip distilasyon kazanlarında iki farklı distilasyon yöntemi (su ve buhar), altı farklı distilasyon süresi (15, 30, 60, 90, 120 ve 150 dakika) ve altı farklı fraksiyon dilimi (0-15, 16-30, 31-60, 61-90, 91-120 ve 121-150 dakika) uygulanmıştır. Distilasyon yönteminin, distilasyon süresinin ve distilasyon dilimlerinin kekiğin uçucu yağ oranı ve bileşenleri üzerinde önemli etkileri (p&amp;lt;0.01) olduğu belirlenmiştir. Su distilasyonuna göre buhar distilasyonundan daha yüksek uçucu yağ verimi kazanılmıştır. Her iki yöntemde de en yüksek uçucu yağ oranları 150 dakikalık damıtma süresinde (su distilasyonuda %4.60 ve buhar distilasyonunda %5.11) ve 16-30 dakikalar arasındaki fraksiyon diliminde (toplam uçucu yağın su distilasyonunda %31.60’ı ve buhar distilasyonunda %35.77’si) elde edilmiştir. Kekik yağının temel bileşeni olan karvakrolün en yüksek oranları su distilasyonu ile elde edilen uçucu yağda 16-120 dakikalar arasında (%93.91-94.60), buhar distilasyonu ile elde edilen uçucu yağda ise 16-60 dakikalar arasında (%93.11-93.41) tespit edilmiştir.

Histopathological changes in chemical pneumonitis following diesel fuel siphonage

Diesel is commonly used as fuel for engines and is a mixture of the hydrocarbons which are obtained from fractional distillation of petroleum. Hydrocarbon pneumonitis following aspiration of diesel during siphoning of diesel though infrequent but can happen in people who are employed in the automobile field. We present a case of a 23-year-old male mechanic who aspirated diesel while siphoning it from fuel tank, developed fever, cough & bilateral pneumonitis. The patient received the symptomatic therapy at a local hospital. However, 3 days later, he developed breathlessness and was brought to R.L. Jalappa Hospital for tertiary care. Despite all resuscitative measures, the patient succumbed to death after 6 hours of treatment. Autopsy examination revealed haemorrhagic lungs with consolidation. Histopathological examination showed the features of bilateral pneumonitis. Literature pertaining to accidental aspiration of diesel during siphonage are rare. The complications and clinical spectrum are alarming after ingestion. So, it is vital to prevent hydrocarbon ingestion. Key words: Hydrocarbons, diesel, siphonage, pneumonitis, histopathology

Effect of plastic pyrolysis oil and its blends with diesel on Cetane Index

Availability and higher gasoline price have attracted the attention of researchers towards alternative fuels. Plastic is produced from the byproduct of gasoline products, which possesses a higher possibility of recycling the waste plastic as an alternative fuel. Research conducted on plastic fuel shows that a diesel engine can run with 100% plastic oil. The present work is focused on the effect of distilled plastic oil on the cetane index as the cetane index is a major fuel property of diesel that affects the ignition quality and exhaust emissions of the engine. For the measurement of the cetane index, two standards are followed and they are ASTM D4737 and ASTM D976. It is found that Crude plastic oil produced from thermal pyrolysis of waste plastic possesses a wide variety of hydrocarbon i.e. lower to higher hydrocarbon. From the fractional distillation of crude plastic oil at three temperature ranges 200◦C, 290◦C and up to the final boiling point, it gave petrol grade oil and diesel grade oil (both low and high grade). Also, it was found that the recovery of distilled high-grade plastic oil is higher than other distilled crude plastic oil. Along with this, crude plastic oil, as well as high-grade plastic oil, have a higher cetane index than the diesel available in the market. Similarly, blending diesel with high-grade plastic oil up to 20% by volume and with low-grade plastic oil up to 10% by volume increases the cetane index of fuel.

Towards fuel composition and properties from Two-dimensional gas chromatography with flame ionization and vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy

Already low volume (<1mL) test methods facilitate the development of sustainable aviation fuel platforms and higher fidelity computational methods. Here a novel technique with two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) and Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) identification is used to characterize fuel composition and determine properties compared to previous work. Ten properties are predicted, including the temperature dependence of density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and heat capacity. Property predictions incorporate uncertainty quantification (UQ) from analyte quantification (UQ1), root property uncertainty (UQ2), and the uncertainty associated with isomeric variance (UQ3), when an analyte is not identified via VUV. Comparisons to a previous method illustrate the ability of VUV identification to increase the fidelity of property predictions and decrease uncertainties. This method is applied to a surrogate intended to mimic the first-order properties and composition of a representative Jet A/A-1. In addition to nominal and temperature-dependent properties, the derived cetane number (DCN) of the surrogate is calculated for the distillation fraction evolved. The DCN there is shown to vary across the fraction of fuel distilled. Collectively, this method documents a process to prescreen novel sustainable aviation fuel candidates, facilitate the development of chemical process models, and automate property determinations for computational fluid dynamics.

Application of piezo quartz microweights for express out-of-laboratory determination of actual resins in diesel fuels

The article shows the possibility of using the piezo quartz microweighting method and a portable device model based on highly sensitive piezoweights for express assessment of the concentration of actual resins in diesel fuel. A comparative characteristic of the methods for determining the actual resins in diesel fuel is given: the standard Budarov method is evaporation to a dry residue under a jet of water vapor to a constant mass, the fractional distillation method is heating to the evaporation temperature, cooling the gas fraction and measuring the volume of the non-distillable residue. The device of highly sensitive quartz piezoweights, the main patterns, characteristics during operation are considered. Samples of diesel fuel of the brand L-0,2-62 GOST 305-82 "Diesel fuel" were selected as objects of research. Technical specifications" of different manufacturers and filling dates provided in the fleet of the FVA RVSN im. Peter the Great (Serpukhov city). The results of a study of diesel fuel according to standard methods for determining the content of actual resins, cetane number, density, kinematic viscosity, acidity, water–soluble acids and alkalis, mechanical impurities and water content, fractional composition - distillation temperatures of 50 and 96% of fuel, flash point in a closed crucible, turbidity temperature and solidification temperature, test on a copper plate are presented. The characteristic of the operational properties of each sample is given. The method of piezo-quartz microweighting with a one-way load of the investigated diesel fuel breakdown of the resonator electrode, mass-sensitive (OAV-type), is applied. The correlation between the results obtained by piezo-quartz microweighting and the standard method was studied. The possibility of using the piezo-quartz microweighting method for the development of express out-of-laboratory determination of non-volatile residue in diesel fuel is positively evaluated.

Enriching terpinen-4-ol from tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil using vacuum fractional distillation: Effect of column and packings on the separation

Two types of columns, three types of packings, and four levels of column height were considered to investigate how column and packings affected the separation in the vacuum fractional distillation process of raw tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil (TTO). This study discussed those effects on purity, yield, and overall discovery to select the most excellent operating conditions for enriching terpinen-4-ol. After the experiments, the essential oil was successfully separated into two fractions, in which the second one composed mostly the main TTO constituent, terpinen-4-ol. The best result was achieved by conducting the distillation on a 300-mm Hempel column filled with small Fenske helices (10 mm × 2 mm i.d.) at the system pressure of 60 mmHg. GC/MS analysis showed an almost 2.5-fold increase in the content of terpinen-4-ol, from 39.23% to 95.77% after fractionation. Meanwhile, there was 75% of terpinen-4-ol successfully recovered from its parental oil. Hence, the vacuum fraction distillation could be an effective method to enrich the terpinen-4-ol content in TTO.

분유 첨가 고체발효 술덧의 증류 방법에 따른 증류 분획물의 특성

To enhance the flavor of solid-state fermented spirits, the effects of powdered milk on the composition of the distillation fractions obtained by two different distillation methods were evaluated. In the solid-state fermented product, the addition of whole milk powder did not affect alcohol production. However, the addition of milk increased the amino acid content and reducing sugar content, and decreased the formic, acetic, and succinic acid contents. Distillation using a microwave was four times faster than distillation using steam; however, the resulting number of fractions was high, with a wide range of alcohol flow rates. After the addition of whole milk powder, the contents of ethyl acetate and ethyl caproate were 2 times and 16-27 times higher, respectively, in the fraction, and the contents of butyric, valeric, and hexanoic acids among the volatile organic acids increased. In addition, the content of furfural, an odor component, increased 3.45 times from 1,393.73 mg/L to 4,801.93 mg/L. The microwave distillation method resulted in a 1.46-fold higher ethyl caproate content in the distillate compared with that obtained by steam distillation. However, as the temperature of the solid-state fermented mash was raised to over 300°C, the content of furfural increased by 3.29 times. These results support the use of milk powder in distilled spirits and may guide the development of optimized methods.

Seasonal Variation, Fractional Isolation and Nanoencapsulation of Antioxidant Compounds of Indian Blackberry (Syzygium cumini).

Indian blackberry (Syzygium cumini L.) is an evergreen tree in the Myrtaceae family. It is used in traditional medicine due to its significant bioactivities and presence of polyphenols with antioxidant activities. The present study describes the effect of seasonal variations on Indian blackberry leaf essential oil yield and chemical composition, production of fractions from essential oil using high vacuum fractional distillation and slow cooling to low temperature (−50 °C) under vacuum, and bioactivities of the essential oil, fractions, and nanoparticles. The results show that Indian blackberry essential oil yield was higher in spring season as compared to winter season. Indian blackberry essential oil fractionation processes were effective in separating and concentrating compounds with desired bioactivities. The bioactivities shown by magnesium nanoparticles were comparatively higher than barium nanoparticles.

A Novel Heterogeneous Superoxide Support-Coated Catalyst for Production of Biodiesel from Roasted and Unroasted Sinapis arvensis Seed Oil

Disadvantages of biodiesel include consumption of edible oils for fuel production, generation of wastewater and inability to recycle catalysts during homogenously catalyzed transesterification. The aim of the current study was to utilize low-cost, inedible oil extracted from Sinapis arvensis seeds to produce biodiesel using a novel nano-composite superoxide heterogeneous catalyst. Sodium superoxide (NaO2) was synthesized by reaction of sodium nitrate with hydrogen peroxide via spray pyrolysis, followed by coating onto a composite support material prepared from silicon dioxide, potassium ferricyanide and granite. The roasted (110 °C, 20 min) and unroasted S. arvensis seeds were subjected to high vacuum fractional distillation to afford fractions (F1, F2 and F3) that correlated to molecular weight. For example, F1 was enriched in palmitic acid (76–79%), F2 was enriched in oleic acid (69%) and F3 was enriched in erucic acid (61%). These fractions, as well as pure unroasted and roasted S. arvensis seed oils, were then transesterified using NaO2/SiO2/PFC/Granite to give biodiesel a maximum yield of 98.4% and 99.2%, respectively. In contrast, yields using immobilized lipase catalyst were considerably lower (78–85%). Fuel properties such as acid value, cetane number, density, iodine value, pour point, and saponification value were within the ranges specified in the American biodiesel standard, ASTM D6751, where applicable. These results indicated that the nano-composite catalyst was excellent for production of biodiesel from unroasted and roasted S. arvensis seed oil and its fractions.

A method for HTL biocrude simulation using multi-objective optimisation and fractional distillation

A novel approach for modelling hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) biocrude is presented, using a combination of fractional distillation data of biocrude and multi-objective optimisation to simulate the biocrude various properties using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The complex composition of biocrude has made it challenging to analyse and simulate in process models. Most HTL simulation studies use a simple basis for biocrude using limited GC–MS data, which may not be reliably accurate. Applying multi-objective optimisation reduced the density and TBP curve error by ten times compared to single-objective optimisation. In addition,the results were further improved by combining distillation experimental data into multi-objective optimisation, in contrast with previous studies which used only the biocrude data. Separating complicated HTL biocrude into five fractions and analysing the obtained results increased the number of candidate databank compounds from 72 to 216, which led to a noticeable improvement in the accuracy of the model.

Pinch Analysis Application for Fouled Crude Distillation and Condensate Fractionation Units of a Refinery

Preheat trains of each Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Condensate Fractionation Unit (CFU) of a refinery in Malaysia were experiencing severe fouling. This led to lower heat recoveries of the pump arounds and higher fuel gas consumptions in the furnace and the reboiler of the units. Consequently, potential energy recovery options and possible fouling mitigation strategies needed to be explored. Adding few new heat exchangers to increase heat recovery in the below pinch region has been found to potentially reduce the fuel gas consumption by about 7 – 10 %, depending on crude scenarios. Further analysis of the preheat trains showed that heat exchangers at the higher temperature end of the network (above Pinch region) experiencing more severe fouling than the others. These heat exchangers were then recommended to be cleaned more frequently or to be modified to become less susceptible to fouling. This approach of adding new heat exchangers in the below pinch region and doing more frequent cleaning in the above pinch region could be seen as a practical application of the Plus/Minus principle of Pinch Analysis. More detailed process engineering calculations needed in the next phase of this project for actual implementations and detailed economic evaluation.

Home-made cider brandy (Calvados): analysis of distillation fractions by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method

In this study, the distillation fractions of cider brandy produced illegally in Lithuania using gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry method were investigated. The conditions of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were firstly optimized. A qualitative analysis of three distillation fractions was performed and estimated. The first fraction (initial) of distillation products was collected for 0.5 h, the second one (intermediate) was collected for the next 1.5 h and the third (main) fraction for the next 5 h. A method of the quantitative analysis of different volatile analytes such as acetaldehyde, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, isobutanol, 1-butanol, isoamyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol in the distillation products was also developed. The concentration of ethanol decreased significantly in the main fraction in comparison with those of the initial and intermediate fractions. The concentration of 1-propanol, isobutanol, 1-butanol and isoamyl alcohol in the last fraction decreased drastically as well.

Production and Evaluation of Fractionated Tamarind Seed Oil Methyl Esters as a New Source of Biodiesel

Biodiesel has attracted considerable interest as an alternative biofuel due to its many advantages over conventional petroleum diesel such as inherent lubricity, low toxicity, renewable raw materials, biodegradability, superior flash point, and low carbon footprint. However, high production costs, poor low temperature operability, variability of fuel quality from different feedstocks, and low storage stability negatively impact more widespread adoption. In order to reduce production costs, inexpensive inedible oilseed alternatives are needed for biodiesel production. This study utilized inedible tamarind (Tamarind indica) seed oil as an alternative biodiesel feedstock, which contained linoleic (31.8%), oleic (17.1%), and lauric (12.0%) acids as the primary fatty acids. A simple and cost-effective high vacuum fractional distillation (HVFD) methodology was used to separate the oil into three fractions (F1, F2, and F3). Subsequent transesterification utilizing basic, acidic, and enzymatic catalysis produced biodiesel of consistent quality and overcame the problem of low temperature biodiesel performance. The most desirable biodiesel with regard to low temperature operability was produced from fractions F2 and F3, which were enriched in unsaturated fatty acids relative to tamarind seed oil. Other properties such as density and cetane number were within the limits specified in the American and European biodiesel standards.

Modified Smith predictor‐based P‐PD control for pure integrating delay dominated processes

AbstractModified Smith predictor (MSP) with P (proportional)‐PD (proportional‐derivative) control methodology is designed for pure integrating processes with time delay (IPTD). Industrial processes such as liquid supply to the large storage, fractional distillation, and superheated steam flow to turbine are found to be integrating in nature with dominant time delay. The proposed P‐PD control strategy ascertains the desired closed loop response. The closed loop time constant () is considered to be the sole tuning parameter for reducing the tuning intricacies of the proposed MSP‐based design. P controller in the forward path is tuned by the internal model control (IMC) technique towards enhanced servo tracking. In the feedback path, PD controller parameters are obtained from Routh's stability analysis for improving regulatory responses. Overshoot free set point response is observed and smooth as well as reasonably faster recovery is also found during load fluctuations. Effectiveness of the proposed MSP is validated during closed loop performance and stability analyses in comparison to others' reported dead time compensating methodologies.

Isolation of guaiene from crude and distillate patchouli oil extracted by molecular distillation

Guaiene is one of the components of sesquiterpenes that affects the patchouli oil fragrance. It is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry and is also used as a flavoring and fragrance agent in the food industry. The objective of this study was to obtain the highest content of guaiene and to investigate the effect of the isolation stage by the molecular distillation process. Crude and distillate fraction patchouli oil samples were introduced into the molecular distillation system. The process conditions applied were first-stage and second-stage molecular distillation. Parameters observed were in terms of chemical composition and color. Results obtained the highest content of a-guaiene in the patchouli oil fraction distillate provided by second-stage molecular distillation (23.53%). However, the highest content of A-guaiene was revealed in second-stage molecular distillation residues (33.15%) of patchouli oil fraction distillate samples. The chromaticity value of the second stage distillate was yellow while the residue was yellow-red, respectively.

The effects of drip rate and geometry on the isotopic composition of speleothems: Evaluation with an advection-diffusion-reaction model

The curvature and slope of speleothem surfaces have been shown to affect the reaction rates in the aqueous carbonate system by altering the thickness of the CaCO3-precipitating solution. However, the effects of speleothem geometry and drip rate on the speleothem’s carbon and oxygen isotopic composition have yet to be investigated. Over more strongly sloping surfaces, solutions are thinner and flow faster. The effects of thinner and faster-flowing solutions on the isotopic composition of carbonate minerals precipitated from these solutions are of opposite sense. Thinner solutions enhance rates of CO2 degassing and mineral formation, increasing the degree of isotopic distillation of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) reservoir and leading to larger isotopic fractionation between the carbonate mineral and the initial DIC. Concurrently, faster flow over the steeper surfaces results in shorter residence times of the solutions on the growing speleothem, thereby limiting the degree of isotopic distillation and CaCO3-DIC fractionation. Consequently, predicting the CaCO3-DIC isotopic fractionation as a function of drip rate, surface slope and flow distance is not trivial.Using an advection-diffusion-reaction model, we tested the sensitivity of the isotopic composition of calcite precipitated along inclined surfaces to the solution discharge (drip) rate and the surface slope. Calcite δ13C and δ18O values correlate well with the degree of prior calcite precipitation (PCP), which is identified as a major determinant of isotopic compositions in speleothems. Our results show that at low PCP, speleothem δ13C and δ18O values may initially decrease relative to calcite-DIC and calcite-water equilibrium due to expression of kinetic isotope effects of mineral precipitation. Upon progressive PCP, δ13C and δ18O values gradually increase due to continuous CO2(aq) formation and degassing. This shift in the isotopic composition of the calcite to lower-than-equilibrium and then higher-than-equilibrium values expands the regime of near-equilibrium compositions during the isotopic evolution. In turn, this may allow quantitative environmental reconstructions, even when the isotopic system is in disequilibrium. Under the simulated conditions, our model predicts maximal potential enrichments of 7 and 3‰ in the calcite δ13C and δ18O values, respectively. In addition, we found a strong dependence of the calcite δ13C and δ18O values on the drip rate and distance of flow, and a weak dependence on the surface slope. In fact, changes in drip rate alone may drive isotopic offsets of several permil, when all other environmental parameters are kept constant. According to our model, higher drip rates and shorter stalactites promote closer-to-equilibrium isotopic compositions of stalagmites, providing a higher signal-to-noise ratio, and minimizing variability that is unrelated to climate.

Refining of crude sulfate turpentine obtained from a kraft pulp mill: A pilot scale treatment

Crude sulfate turpentine (CST), a by-product of the kraft process, has commercial value that depends on the removal of sulfur compounds. The current study investigates desulfurization of CST using basic process steps for a paper mill at a pilot scale treatment. In another aspect, the sulfurous compounds in CST were removed by passing to the aqueous phase with terpin hydrate production, followed by α-terpineol conversion with citric acid catalysis. The goal was to design an environmentally friendly, low-cost, zero waste process and thereby refine the CST or byproducts to a quality that can produce chemical raw materials. Refining processes included hypochlorite oxidation, air oxidation, washing with water, and distillation. The sulfur content was decreased to 170, 106, and 29 ppm from respectively by 1260 ppm initial sulphur content of CST. The chlorine amount, due to treatment with hypochlorite oxidation, did not decrease with refining processes, even in distilled fraction. By obtaining α-terpineol from terpin hydrate, the sulfur compounds were completely removed. According to the GS-MS analysis results, distilled sulfate turpentine (DST) as the final product of the refining process of the CST sample increased the ratio with pinenes. On the other hand, with two reaction steps by obtaining terpin hydrate from CST and then α-terpineol, pinenes were converted to α-terpineol.

Halogenation of used aluminum matrix test reactor fuel – a bench-scale demonstration with surrogate materials

ABSTRACT Experiments with surrogate materials were performed at bench scale to demonstrate a halogenation technique applicable to treatment of used aluminum matrix test reactor fuel. The technique involves dissolution and separation of aluminum from used aluminum matrix test reactor fuel in molten-halide salt systems prior to treatment and disposition of the fuel’s uranium and fission products. Demonstration of the halogenation technique was performed with neodymium metal as a non-radiological surrogate for uranium metal. Experiments involved blending forms of aluminum and neodymium metal with ammonium and lithium chloride or ammonium and lithium bromide, which upon heating decomposed into ammonia gas and the respective hydrogen chloride or bromide gas. The latter reacted with the metals to form the respective aluminum and neodymium halides. At elevated temperatures, aluminum halides gasified away from the respective neodymium halides, which fused with their respective lithium halides. Samples of fused and distillate salts were collected and analyzed, yielding extents of aluminum removal that ranged from 94.5–98.2% for chlorination runs and 91.4–97.8% for bromination runs. No neodymium was detected in the distillate fractions. Some experiments were repeated with excess reactants, and a portion of aluminum chloride distillate was processed into a consolidated waste form.

Studies on the performance and exhaust emission characteristics of a plastic oil fueled CRDI engine with variable compression ratio

In the modern days, the entire world is experiencing the sudden rise in energy needs. Strict emission rules and exhaust of oil reserves have led the scientists around the world to look into different fuels for IC engines. On other context, plastic wastes are currently the biggest problem across the globe for their indispensable nature and the alarming increase in the use of plastic for industrial applications. In this context, plastic oil has been considered as an alternative to the fossil fuels, as the properties of the oil extracted from waste Polyethylene are at par with those of diesel. Literature review reveals the fact that automobile sector ranks highest in polluting the environment through the emission of CO, CO2, NOx and unburnt hydrocarbon. In the present work, an investigation has been carried out to convert the waste plastic into a combustible oil and use of this oil blended with diesel to run a 4- stroke, 3.5kW, single cylinder, CRDI engine. Plastic oil has been prepared by pyrolysis process and subjected to fractional distillation. A blend consisting of 10% of this oil and 90% of diesel has been used as the fuel to run the engine at three different compression ratios. The performance and emission characteristics of the engine have been analyzed and reported. The results reveal a marginal increase in BTE, CO2, NOx and decrease in BSFC, CO, HC and smoke emissions.