Combustion Characteristics of Biodiesel Derived from Vegetable Oils

The goal of this study is to find out the exhaust emissions differences produced by different kinds of biodiesel derived from vegetable oils, as well as the importance of the purification step in exhaust emissions production. Three types of vegetable oil, soybean oil (SBM), peanut oil (PNM), and sunflower seed oil (SFM), 50 1. each, were converted into biodiesel. The biodiesels used in this study had higher density, kinematic viscosity, and flash point, but a lower gross heating value, when compared to the premium diesel. The engine running SFM produced higher CO and HC formation. Most of the biodiesel fuels produced higher CO(2) than the diesel fuel did. The biodiesel fuels emitted higher NO(x), but lower SO(2), than the diesel fuel. Diethyl phthalate (C(12)H(14)O(4)) was selected as the character index for the combustion of biodiesel.