Determination of densities and viscosities of canola oil biodiesel-diesel fuel-isopropyl alcohol blends

Abstract

The aims of this study are to (1) investigate effects of isopropyl alcohol content in blend on changes of densities and kinematic viscosities of canola oil biodiesel-diesel fuel-isopropyl alcohol ternary blends, and (2) derive equations as a function of alcohol content in order to determine densities and to estimate kinematic viscosities of the ternary blends. For these aims, canola oil biodiesel was produced by means of transesterification, and blended with commercially available diesel fuel at the volume ratio of 20%. Isopropyl alcohol was added to this biodiesel-diesel fuel blend at different volume ratios of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 20%. Densities and kinematic viscosities of the prepared each fuels were measured at 15oC and 40oC, respectively, according to ISO 4787 and DIN 53015 standards. Finally, regression equations were derived based on changes of density and viscosity versus alcohol content. According to results, linear equation for density-alcohol fraction variation and four-term exponential regression model for viscosity-alcohol fraction variation were derived.