Production of biodiesel and analysis of exhaust particulate emissions and metal concentration of lubricant oil of the compression ignition engine

Abstract

In this research, biodiesel fuel is produced using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst and methanol as a co-solvent through the transesterification process. The analysis of particulate matter emissions from a compression ignition (CI) engine with pure diesel fuel (D100), biodiesel-mixed (B30), and clove oil (CL3000 ppm) was carried out. The findings obtained revealed 5.27% reduction of particulate matter in biodiesel-blended fuel, and furthermore, when clove was added to the biodiesel-blended fuel, 11.61% reduction of particulate matter was observed as compared to pure diesel. It may be due to the higher oxygen ratio present in clove oil. The engine was run for 100 h on each fuel sample, and the data were taken and tested per 25 h for elemental analysis. The results manifest that the metal concentration found different elements in lubricant oil, i.e., lead (51.84), (24.89%), and (23.255%); copper (47.41%), (28.71%), and (23.86%); nickel (37.88%), (32.32), and (29.78%); and cadmium (46.12), (29.87%), and (24.01%) in diesel, biodiesel-blended fuel, and biodiesel blended with clove oil, respectively. This study found better results for engine life, which shows the lower metal concentration in biodiesel-blended fuel and clove oil than diesel. Furthermore, the fuels investigated in this research can reduce the wear of engine parts because biodiesel and clove oil contain a high oxygen ratio. Moreover, it has been found that biodiesel and clove oil as an antioxidant have a positive impact on noise emission levels for the CI engine.