Emission characteristics study of biodiesel-alcohol blends in a compression ignition engine

Abstract

This experimental study, blended jatropha biodiesel and higher alcohol (butanol) were employed in an unmodified diesel engine and its effects on exhaust emissions were studied. The jatropha biodiesel produced from jatropha oil by transesterification process. The evaluated test fuels were diesel (D100), jatropha biodiesel (BD100), 90% of biodiesel and 10% of butanol blend (B90A10), 80% of biodiesel and 20% of butanol blend (B80A20), and 70% of biodiesel and 30% of butanol blend (B70A30). The experimental results were compared with diesel fuel. Results show that the addition of butanol, enhancing emission characteristics owing to its inherent oxygen content. A significant reduction in all emissions was found when adding butanol in biodiesel at all engine loads. Overall, the butanol blending in jatropha biodiesel can be potential alternative fuel owing to its better emission characteristics.