Investigation of the Physicochemical Properties of Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] oil Biodiesel and its Fuel Blends

Abstract

In recent years, the use of vegetable oils in biodiesel production has led to an increase in the importance of oilseed plants. Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] is one of the potential plants that can be used in biodiesel production. Camelina is an annual plant in the Brassicacea family and one of the 6 widely known Camelina species (C. sativa, C. laxa, C. rumelica, C. microcarpa, C. Hispida, and C. anomala). In this study, camelina crude oil was obtained from camelina seeds with the help of a screw press and the fatty acid components of this oil were investigated. Biodiesel production (B100) was carried out from camelina crude oil in two stages by transesterification method, and camelina biodiesel was blended with diesel fuel of 20% (B20), 7% (B7) and 2% (B2) at different volumes. The physicochemical properties of these fuels including; (kinematic viscosity, density, water content, calorific value, flash point, cloud point, cold filter plugging point, copper strip corrosion, color) were determined and compared to EN 14214 for B100 pure biodiesel fuel, EN 16709 for B20 fuel, and EN 590 for B7 and B2 fuels. According to the results obtained, it can be said that camelina biodiesel (B100) and blended fuels (B20, B7 and B2) have fuel properties that can be used in diesel engines without being modified.