Preparation of Methyl Esters from Thespesia Populnea L. Oil and its Engine Exhausts Studies

Abstract

This article examines biodiesel production from nonedible oil extracted from Thespesia populnea L. plant seeds. The effects of catalyst concentration, time, water content, and temperature on transesterification were studied to get large yield of fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) of the Thespesia populnea L. oil. It was found that the yield of biodiesel made from the Thespesia populnea L. oil under various conditions was found 50%–92%. Biodiesel produced from this nonedible oil was tested on a diesel engine to study the effect of biodiesel fatty acid composition on the engine exhaust emission. The smoke, HC, CO, and NO_x emissions for B50 blend of this biodiesel at different loads, i.e., 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%, were found higher or comparable with diesel fuel. Nonedible oils can prove viable alternatives to edible oils for biodiesel production. From the environmental point of view, biodiesel is superior fuel than fossil fuel.

Keywords:

• Biodiesel
• Nonedible oil
• Thespesia populnea L.
• methyl ester
• Transesterification
• Exhaust emissions

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would like to thank Dr. P. K. Sahoo and the Biofuel Research Laboratory, Centre for Alternate Energy Resource, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India, for engine exhaust studies and the Board of College and University Development, University of Pune, Pune, India, and the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India, for the financial support.