Emulsification of bio-oil heavy fraction with diesel by mechanical and ultrasonic technologies

In the present work, the emulsion fuels from bio-oil heavy fraction and 0# diesel were prepared by mechanical and ultrasound emulsification technologies. The relationship between stable time of emulsions and HLB value of emulsifier was investigated. Results indicated that lower mechanical stirring speeds and lower ultrasonic amplitudes lead to longer stable time of bio-oil heavy fraction emulsions. The stable time of emulsions reduced as HLB values increasing, and it reached a maximal value of 14 minutes under a HLB value of 1.8. Zetasizer Nano S90 was adopted to measure the droplet distribution of emulsions. The major droplet size of emulsions was smaller than 90nm. Meanwhile, the droplet distribution curve of ultrasound emulsions was much complex than those of mechanical emulsions.