Jatropha Oil Biodiesel Research Articles

The efficacy of multiple-criteria design matrix for biodiesel feedstock selection

The increasing demand for energy and depletion of fossil fuels are drawing attention to biofuel as a replacement for petroleum diesel. Hundreds of non-edible biodiesel feedstocks are available and are derived from seeds and animal fat or tallow. However, the selection of appropriate feedstock is fraught with difficulty, as these feedstocks have not been fully evaluated for various parameters that impact upon the performance and cost of the biofuel. Various technical, environmental, economic and social factors influence biodiesel feedstocks selection process. This paper focuses on technical aspects such as physico-chemical properties and fatty acid compositions of biodiesels in the screening process. Six biodiesels, namely papaya seed oil biodiesel (PSO), stone fruit kernel oil biodiesel (SFO), jatropha oil biodiesel (JBD), rapeseed oil biodiesel (RBD), beauty leaf tree biodiesel (BLT), and waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCB) were analysed in this study. Twelve physico-chemical properties of kinematic viscosity (KV), density, higher heating value (HHV), oxidation stability (OS), acid value (AV), flash point (FP), cold filter plug point (CFPP), cetane number (CN), iodine value (IV), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and long chain saturated factor (LCSF) were selected as criteria for ranking the above biodiesels. Three weightage (%) methods of EQUAL, CRITIC and ENTROPY were used for weight determination of criteria. Four different multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods, namely PROMETHEE Graphical Analysis for Interactive Assistance (GAIA), Weighted sum method (WSM), Weighted product method (WPM), and Technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) were used for the analysis. Properties of these biodiesels were found to be within the limits of ASTM D6751-2, EN 14214 and the Australian standard. Finally, the results show that SFO was ranked as the best performer amongst the six biodiesel feedstocks examined in this study, PSO came out as the second best, and the WCB biodiesel feedstock was identified as the worst performer.

Prediction of the density and viscosity of biodiesel and the influence of biodiesel properties on a diesel engine fuel supply system

Biodiesel has been considering as promising fuel in the situation of ever-depleting fossil fuels and serious environment pollution. Beside clearly known advantages, high viscosity and density, and high surface tension are the acute disadvantages that need to be improved to use directly for an unmodified diesel engine. In this work, 24 samples of biodiesel–diesel fuel blends created by mixing respectively 5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75% and 100% of fractions of Coconut oil biodiesel (COB), Jatropha oil biodiesel (JOB), Waste oil biodiesel (WOB) in diesel fuel were used for experimental purposes. In the first stage, the effects of biodiesel fractions and temperature on kinematic viscosity and density were developed. In the second stage, the effects of kinematic viscosity and density on fuel supply system, fuel pump network, fuel filters, and spray characteristics (including penetration length (Lb ) and Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD)) were investigated. Obtained results of this study based on experimental correlation and mathematical equation showed over 95% of the confident level from a regression correlation equation regarding kinematic viscosity and density.

Emission investigation of higher alcohol and biodiesel blends in constant speed diesel engine

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to investigate the emission patterns of the engine using Jatropha oil methyl ester (JO100) with butanol. The JO100 is mixed with butanol by varying the percentage from 5 to 10 (JO95B5 and JO90B10). The emission parameter such as hydrocarbon(HC), nitrox oxide(NOx) and carbon monoxide(CO) was measured at various load conditions using the gas analyzer. Butanol can be directly blended with neat Jatropha oil biodiesel. Operation of the engine is smooth and no visible damage in engine parts up to doping of 10% butanol with neat Jatropha oil. HC and CO for Neat Jatropha oil biodiesel and by doping of 5–10% of butanol of biodiesel shows drastic reduction than diesel at all loads. NOX for Neat Jatropha oil biodiesel and by doping of 5–10% of butanol shows significant reduction than diesel at all loads.

Emissions of Jatropha oil-derived biodiesel blend fuels during combustion in a swirl burner

Experimental works on combustion of jatropha oil biodiesel blends of fuel with high swirling flow in swirl burner have been studied in various blends percentage. Jatropha oil biodiesel was produced using a two-step of esterification-transesterification process. The paper focuses on the emissions of biodiesel blends fuel using jatropha oil in lean through to rich air/fuel mixture combustion in swirl burner. The emissions performances were evaluated by using axial swirler amongst jatropha oil blends fuel including diesel fuel as baseline. The results show that the B25 has good emissions even though it has a higher emission of NOx than diesel fuel, while it emits as low as 42% of CO, 33% of SO2 and 50% of UHC emissions with high swirl number. These are due to the higher oxygen content in jatropha oil biodiesel.

Combustion Characteristics of CI Diesel Engine Fuelled With Blends of Jatropha Oil Biodiesel

Jatropha Curcas oil is a non-edible oil which is used for Jatropha biodiesel (JBD) production. Jatropha biodiesel is produced using transesterification technique and it is used as an alternative fuel in CI diesel engine without any hardware modification. Jatropha biodiesel is used in CI diesel engine with various volumetric concentrations (blends) such as JBD5, JBD15, JBD25, JBD35 and JBD45. The combustion parameters such as in-cylinder pressure, rate of pressure rise, net heat release, cumulative heat release, mass fraction burned are analyzed and compared for all blends combustion data with mineral diesel fuel (D100).

Catalytic upgrading of Jatropha oil biodiesel by partial hydrogenation using Raney-Ni as catalyst under microwave heating

The catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) is a novel, alternative process for the selective hydrogenation, and the microwave is an effective heating method for organic reaction. In this study, CTH of Jatropha oil biodiesel was performed through the method of microwave heating using Raney-Ni as catalyst and water as solvent. The effect of operating parameters on the composition of upgraded biodiesel was analyzed in detail, and the optimum conditions for CTH of Jatropha oil biodiesel were obtained. Under the optimum conditions, the mass conversion ratio of methyl linoleate reached 91.98 wt% at reaction time of 50 min. For the upgraded biodiesel obtained at 50 min, the methyl linoleate content, the methyl oleate content, the methyl stearate content, and the iodine value were 2.45 wt%, 76.70 wt%, 8.45 wt%, and 70.21, respectively. The experimental data of CTH of Jatropha oil biodiesel under microwave heating were well described by pseudo-first order kinetic model, and the kinetic rate constants and the selectivity of CTH were gained. In view of high selectivity and high reaction rate, CTH using microwave energy as heating source, Raney-Ni as catalyst and water as solvent was found to be an effective approach for the catalytic upgrading of Jatropha oil biodiesel.

Comparison of DEA frontier and ranking in performance assessment and optimisation of jatropha and fish oil biodiesel blend in CI engine

This paper presents a novel integrated statistical model to evaluate the diesel engine performance that is operating with duel fuel Jatropha and fish oil blend. Hence, a single cylinder, four stroke, direct Injection constant speed diesel engine was used. The experiments were taken from each category of the injection timing such as retardation, standard and advanced along with single proportion 100% biodiesel blend while other parameters’ injection pressure was maintained constant at 220 bar, respectively. The injection timing was changed during testing of the engine and the performance parameters were held for three different load conditions between 1, 50 and 100% at the rated power of 4.4 kW and a speed of 1500 rpm. From the experimental results, it was observed that BSFC tends to decrease from no load to full load. The maximum BTE for JF100 was found in retardation injection timing of 18° at full load. DEA a multi-response linear programming statistical optimisation tool was used to measure the performance and efficiency of a Biodiesel blend in the DI diesel engine. It was formulated by taking fuel blends relative performance efficiency in relation to input and output variables. Both Frontier and Ranking methods in DEA indicated nearly a good convergence with experimental results.

Experimental analysis on performance of diesel engine using mixture of diesel and bio-diesel as a working fuel with aluminum oxide nanoparticle additive

Petroleum products such as petrol and diesels are being used as a fuel to the running of Internal Combustion Engines. Day by day demands for the petroleum products is increasing since its rate of consumption is increasing. If the trend will continue the whole world may suffer from shortage of petroleum products. Therefore it is necessary to find different ways of reducing fuel consumption and at the same time to improve the performance of IC engine; it is necessary to find out some additives to mix it with the mixture of petroleum product and alternative fuel and one can formulate a new fuel.So the project’s focus is given to improve the performance of CI engine using diesel and bio-diesel by adding appropriate amount of nano-aluminum oxide (n-Al2O3). An experimental investigation was carried out to find out the performance of Single cylinder, 4 stroke diesel engine using Jatropha oil bio diesel and n-Al2O3 mixed diesel. The n-Al2O3 of size <50 nm was mixed into the mixture of diesel and bio-diesel at the rate of 0.25 g/l, 0.5 g/l, 0.75 g/l and 1.00 g/l for formulation of new fuels. Nano-Al2O3 posses better combustion characteristics and enhanced surface area to volume ratio which results in better oxidation of the fuel mixture and hence enhances the combustion sufficiency of the test fuel. The diesel fuel without and with Jatropha oil bio-diesel and n-Al2O3 additive were tested in a direct injection diesel engine at different load conditions and results shown a considerable enhancement in the brake thermal efficiency compared to mixture of diesel and bio-diesel without n-Al2O3 because the additive has improved degree of mixing with air and better combustion characteristics. By the project it had been found the better results while using n-Al2O3 nano particle as an additive.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of viscosity, density and sound velocity of jatropha diesel and pure diesel blends

ABSTRACTProduction of biodiesel from the chemically extracted oil of Jatropha curcas was investigated. Jatropha oil biodiesel was blended with pure diesel and the rheological properties were studied. The viscoelastic properties studied included viscosity, stress and strain, and torque and density measurements with the variation in temperature from room temperature to 90°C. Significant differences were revealed between the viscoelastic properties of biodiesel and that of pure diesel. Additionally, an empirical relationship between the dependence of viscosity and density on temperature and fraction of biodiesel was also studied. Sound velocity was measured with variation in temperature. Regression analysis explained the dependency of sound velocity on temperature. J20 and pure diesel had the same approximate values making it convenient to use as an alternative to pure diesel.

Biodiesel preparation from Jatropha oil catalyzed by KF/Red mud catalyst

ABSTRACTBiodiesel preparation from Jatropha oil catalyzed by KF/Red mud (KF/RM) was studied. The optimum values of parameters for preparation of Jatropha oil biodiesel were obtained. The conversion rate of transesterification reached 92.2% under the optimum conditions, and the used KF/RM could be regenerated. Catalyst characterization showed that KOH and KFeF4 were produced in KF/RM catalyst, which was crucial for the transesterification of Jatropha oil with methanol. Red mud was a good support to prepare KF-loaded catalyst, and prepared KF/RM was an excellent catalyst for biodiesel synthesis from Jatropha oil via transesterification reaction.

Lipase-catalyzed biodiesel production and quality with Jatropha curcas oil: exploring its potential for Central America.

BackgroundExtensive native Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) crop areas have been planted in Central America marginal lands since 2008 as a non-edible prospective feedstock alternative to high-value, edible palm oil. Jatropha biodiesel is currently exclusively produced in the region at commercial scale utilizing alkaline catalysts. Recently, a free, soluble Thermomyces lanuginosus (TL) 1,3 specific lipase has shown promise as biocatalyst, reportedly yielding up to 96 % ASTM D6751 compliant biodiesel after 24 h transesterification of soybean, canola oils and other feedstocks. Biodiesel conversion rate and quality of enzymatically catalyzed transesterification of Jatropha oil was evaluated. Two lipases: free, soluble TL and immobilized Candida antarctica (CA) catalyzed methanolic transesterification of crude Jatropha and refined palm oil.ResultsJatropha yields were similar to palm biodiesel with NaOH as catalyst. After 24 h transesterification, Jatropha (81 %) and palm oil (86 %) biodiesel yields with TL as catalyst were significantly higher than CA (<70 %) but inferior to NaOH (>90 %). Enzymatic catalysts (TL and CA) produced Jatropha biodiesel with optimum flow properties but did not complied with ASTM D6751 stability parameters (free fatty acid content and oil stability index).ConclusionsBiodiesel production with filtered, degummed, low FFA Jatropha oil using a free liquid lipase (TL) as catalyst showed higher yielding potential than immobilized CA lipase as substitute of RBD palm oil with alkaline catalyst. However, Jatropha enzymatic biodiesel yield and stability were inferior to alkaline catalyzed biodiesel and not in compliance with international quality standards. Lower quality due to incomplete alcoholysis and esterification, potential added costs due to need of more than 24 h to achieve comparable biodiesel yields and extra post-transesterification refining reactions are among the remaining drawbacks for the environmentally friendlier enzymatic catalysis of crude Jatropha oil to become an economically viable alternative to chemical catalysis.

Spray Characteristic of Rapid Mixing Jatropha Oil Biodiesel in Burner System

Jatropha Oil (JPO) is an alternative fuel proposed to be used especially for renewable sources and energy efficiency. Its characteristics need further investigation particularly for the use in an external burner system. The aim of this research is to investigate experimentally the spray characteristics of Jatropha oil in premixing injector for burner system. The Jatropha oil was blended with diesel at different ratio; JPO5, JPO10, and JPO15 at water content of W0, W5, W10 and W15. Fuel, water and air are injected in premix injector, causing the spray of these mixtures to produce lower toxic emission during combustion process. The spray angle, spray penetration length and spray area of different fuel-water ratio and equivalent ratio shall be analyzed from images captured using direct photography method with a DSLR camera. The result of the spray image will be further analyzed and compared between the different batches of image captured. It is shown that the effect of equivalent ratio and water content in fuel-water mixtures will give a significant effect on spray characteristics. Addition of water content will increases the viscosity of the mixtures, hence it increases the spray penetration length, spray area and reduce the spray angle.

Performance of Jatropha Oil Blends in RD270 Two Cylinders Four Stroke Diesel Engine

The performance characteristics of RD270 two cylinder, four stroke diesel engine fuelled with jatropha oil and its blend with diesel are presented in this paper. The jatropha biodiesel was obtained from National Research Institutes for Chemical Technology, Zaria, Nigeria. The produced biodiesel was blended with neat diesel at a ratio of 20/80%, 30/70%, 40/60% and 50/50% of jatropha oil/diesel by volume. The biodiesel was within the EN, BIS and Brazil specification for biodiesel. To establish a baseline for comparison, the engine was first run on diesel and each blend was tested on a short term trial of one hour, it was found that, the exhaust gas temperature of the jatropha oil/ diesel blends were lower than that of diesel, signifying lower heat loss. The percentage heat losses were lower when operated on higher jatropha oil/diesel blends. Higher volumetric efficiencies were obtained for lower engine speeds of jatropha/diesel blend. Air/fuel ratio shows a decreasing trend with increase in jatropha oil content in jatropha oil/diesel blends. No long term assessment, emission characteristics or endurance tests including breakdown of jatropha oil biodiesel were carried out. The research found that, 20/80% blend of jatropha oil/diesel blend gave the best performance among all the blends. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i1.14

Energy-saving and rapid transesterification of jatropha oil using a microwave heating system with ionic liquid catalyst

The use of inedible oils to produce biodiesel, which lowers engine emissions, has been studied extensively. Jatropha oil is an ideal feedstock for biodiesel production because of its high oil content. This study focuses on applications to improve jatropha oil biodiesel yields with a microwave heating system with the ionic liquid catalyst. Although there were multiple research projects that have focused on the use of microwave heating systems to improve methyl ester yields, the topic to raise yields from microwave heating systems and IL catalyst have yet to be thoroughly studied. Current experimental results indicate that the best methyl ester yield is 98.5% with an I1N0.75 catalyst (1 wt% IL + 0.75 wt% NaOH), at a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 9, microwave temperature of 70 °C, and 6 min of reaction time. A microwave heating system offers a rapid route to biodiesel production that is also more energy-efficient and cost-effective.

The effect of Jatropha oil biodiesel on the corrosion rates of aluminium and mild carbon steel

The effect of biodiesel fuel made from Jatropha curcus L. seed oil and methanol on the corrosion rates of mild carbon steel (MCS) and aluminium (Al) was investigated and compared with those of the conventional petroleum diesel and its blend. Static immersion tests in diesel (B0), biodiesel-diesel blend (B50) and biodiesel (B100) fuels were carried out at room temperature for 18 weeks. Corrosion rates of MCS and Al in these fuels were determined at an interval of 3 weeks by the weight loss method. Also, during the period of investigation, the fuels were analysed by measuring the total acid number (TAN). It was observed from the results that the corrosion rates for these metals were higher in B100 compared to the corrosion rates in B50 and B0. The corrosion rates for MCS were found to be higher than corrosion rates for Al in these fuels. The corrosion rate for MCS at the end of our investigation were 0.026, 0.022 and 0.011 mpy in B100, B50 and B0 respectively, while that for aluminium were 0.016, 0.0099 and 0.0025 mpy in B100, B50 and B0 respectively. There was an increase in the TAN during the period of investigation. Maximum TAN of 3.53 mg KOH/g was observed in the B100 fuel in which MCS was immersed, while the lowest TAN of 0.69 mg KOH/g was measured in B0 containing aluminium.

Jatropha curcas: A ten year story from hope to despair

The story of Jatropha curcas (Jatropha) was started in 2003 when the Planning Commission of India decided 20% blending of Jatropha oil (biodiesel) in petroleum diesel by 2010 and 30% by the year 2030. After that China, Japan, Belgium, Brazil, Tanzania, Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and East and South Africa have set their own plans to blend Jatropha oil in petroleum diesel. It is not unexpected that almost every paper about Jatropha starts its introduction with the energy, environment and economic benefits and wishful thinking of reducing global warming. Unfortunately, Jatropha could not succeed so far in energy sector as expected, for which it was the most popularized energy crop. Many of the actual investments and policy decisions on Jatropha have convincingly been made without any scientific and technological backup. It has become clear that the positive claims on Jatropha are numerous which have popularized it as a potential source in biodiesel production but many of them still remain as theoretical assumptions and have not been verified yet practically. This letter reports briefly the status of past hopes to ground reality on the basis of what a few scientific studies on Jatropha.

Experimental investigations of ignition delay period and performance of a diesel engine operated with Jatropha oil biodiesel

Jatropha-curcas as a non-edible methyl ester biodiesel fuel source is used to run single cylinder, variable compression ratio, and four-stroke diesel engine. Combustion characteristics as well as engine performance are measured for different biodiesel – diesel blends. It has been shown that B50 (50% of biodiesel in a mixture of biodiesel and diesel fuel) gives the highest peak pressure at 1750rpm, while B10 gives the highest peak pressure at low speed, 1000rpm. B50 shows upper brake torque, while B0 shows the highest volumetric efficiency. B50 shows also, the highest BSFC by about (12.5–25%) compared with diesel fuel. B10 gives the highest brake thermal efficiency. B50 to B30 show nearly the lowest CO concentration, besides CO concentration is the highest at both idle and high running speeds. Exhaust temperature and NOx are maximum for B50. Delay period is measured and correlated for different blends. Modified empirical formulae are obtained for each blend. The delay period is found to be decreased with the increase of cylinder pressure, temperature and equivalence ratio.

Fuel properties and combustion characteristics of jatropha oil biodiesel–diesel blends

Jatropha oil methyl esters (JMEs) produced from jatropha (Jatropha curcas) oil were blended with diesel at various volumetric percentages to evaluate the variations in the fuel properties. Correlations between fuel properties, including the calorific heat, cold filter plugging point, density, kinematic viscosity, and oxidation stability of the JMEs–diesel blends, and the blending ratio of the JMEs have been established. As a result, a blending ratio of the JMEs with diesel was recommended up to 40vol.% in comparison with the relevant specifications for biodiesel–diesel blends. The combustion tests of the JMEs–diesel blends were performed in a diesel generator. Higher brake thermal efficiency and lower brake specific fuel consumption were clearly observed with higher output loading. The concentration of carbon dioxide and nitrogen monoxide in the exhaust gas increased with higher output loading while the concentration of oxygen and carbon monoxide decreased. The concentration of nitrogen oxide decreased with the addition of pyrogallol. Multiple linear correlations for combustion performance and pollutant emissions have been established that are associated with system parameters, including output loading, the blending ratio, and the pyrogallol addition.

Particle matter from a diesel engine fueled with Jatropha curcas oil biodiesel and ultra-low sulphur diesel

Biodiesels are promoted as alternative fuels due to their potential to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and carbon emissions. Research in this field has focused on the study of the emissions of light duty vehicles. However, particle matter and gaseous emissions emitted from heavy-duty diesel engines fueled by Jatropha Oil Biodiesel (JOB) and Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) has not been studied. The objective of this study is to explore the performance and emission levels of a Cummins 4-stroke, 4.8 liter, 4-cylinder diesel engine with common rail fuel injection, equipped with a cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). There was a substantial reduction by the use of JOB in unburned hydrocarbons (- 45%), carbon monoxide (- 75%), and particulate matter (- 25%) compared to emission from diesel fuel. At mid and high loads, NOx emissions were higher for JOB compared to ULSD. Most of the particles (64%) for ULSD were in a range of between 40 and 560 nm. On the other hand, most of the particles (94%) for JCB mode were between 6 and 40 nm.&#x0D; In the range between 6 and 40 nm, mass mean diameters in ULSD were 34.4, 34.7 and 33.3 nm while for JOB they were 21.3, 18.2 and 20.1 nm for 100, 50 for a 10% load, respectively.

Technical Evaluation of Pongame and Jatropha B20 Fuels in Pakistan

Refined Pongamia pinnata L. (pongame) oil obtained from indigenous sources in Pakistan was converted successfully to biodiesel using alkaline transesterification in a batch reactor. The optimum reaction conditions (temperature 60 °C, methanol-to-oil ratio 48 % by volume, H2SO4-to-oil ratio 0.2 % by volume, KOH-to-oil ratio ≈ 1 % by volume, stirring speed 600 rpm and reaction time 180 min) were determined from several experiments. The pongame oil biodiesel was analysed according to the American (ASTM D 6751) and European (EN 14214) international standards, showing that its properties were better than that of canola oil and jatropha oil biodiesel fuels. Environmental emissions profile of pongame B20 (20 % biodiesel blended with 80 % mineral diesel) from a compression ignition engine was better than those obtained with canola B20 and jatropha B20. Engine performance of pongame B20 was found to be comparable to jatropha B20. From results obtained in this research it appears technically feasible to harness biodiesel from native pongamia pinnata instead of imported jatropha curcas to meet the ever increasing energy demands of Pakistan.