Formulation of Microemulsions Based on Sugar Surfactant as an Alternative Fuel

Abstract

Microemulsion systems that serve as water in diesel fuel were formulated using minimum amount of sucrose laurate at 25°C. Comparative experiments were also conducted using n-heptane. It was found that in order to formulate diesel and microemulsions a cosurfactant should be added. Alcohols such as 1-butanol,1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, and 1-heptanol served as cosurfactants. The area of the one-phase microemulsion region varies depending on the cosurfactant structure and composition. A continuous microemulsion region was observed with 1-butanol and 1-pentanol. Water solubilization capacity and thermodynamics as a function of alcohol chain length was determined.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Alternative fuel
• fuel microemulsion
• hydrophilic sugar ester surfactant
• water–diesel fuel

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are thankful for the research assistant Ms. Noor Hourani for her assistance in running some experiments and measurements.