Microemulsion fuel formulation from used cooking oil with carbinol as the dispersion phase

ABSTRACT

The current research work investigated the suitability of utilizing Used Cooking Oil (UCO) as a substitute for diesel by using the microemulsification technique. A microemulsion-based biofuel system was formulated using UCO and carbinol as the continuous and dispersed phases, respectively. Winsor type IV stable microemulsion fuel was developed by adding Butan-2-ol as the co-surfactant. The formulated fuel samples were observed to be stable for 30 days. A Phase behavior study was conducted on the samples to analyze the system’s stability, and single-phase emulsions were identified. The particle size of the distributed alcohol phase in the identified system was explored using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) study and was found to be 14.6 nm. The results of this work showed the viscosity variation, droplet size distribution, and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹HNMR) spectrum of UCO and microemulsion fuel. The optimum blend exhibiting fuel properties under ASTM D6751 standards for biodiesel was 50% UCO, 25% Carbinol, and 25% Butan-2-ol by volume. It gave a kinematic viscosity of 5.74 cSt, a density of 0.862 gm/cm^3, and a calorific value of 31.5 mJ/kg. This study recommends using UCO-carbinol-based microemulsion fuels as an effective and economical alternative for the biofuel industry.

KEYWORDS:

• Microemulsification
• Transesterification
• Biofuel
• Carbinol
• Butan-2-ol
• Surfactant

List of abbreviations

UCO	=	Used cooking oil
DLS	=	Dynamic light scattering
1HNMR	=	Proton nuclear magnetic resonance
CI	=	Compression ignition
NOX	=	Oxides of nitrogen
CO	=	Carbon monoxide
HC	=	Hydrocarbon
W/O	=	Water in oil
O/W	=	Oil in water
HLB	=	Hydrophilic lipophilic balance
Mh, Ml	=	Formula weight of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic part of a molecule
RRI	=	Relative retention indices
PDI	=	Polydispersity index
FFA	=	Free fatty acid
NMR	=	Nuclear magnetic resonance
GCMS	=	Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

B Deepak

Mr. B Deepak is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology, Kerala since 2012. He is currently perusing his research at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. He has completed his post-graduate studies in Internal Combustion Engines and Turbomachinery from the University of Calicut and his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kerala. His research interest includes emulsion fuels, biosurfactants, Combustion, alternate green energy sources, and material science. He has presented papers at various international and national conferences and acts as a reviewer for various international journals.

M Mohamed Ibrahim

Dr. M Mohamed Ibrahim received his PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India. He worked in a leading automotive industry Delphi-TVS Diesel Systems Limited before joining IIT Madras for performing his PhD research work at Internal Combustion Engines laboratory. He has 14 years of research experience in the field of Internal Combustion Engines. His research interests encompass low-temperature combustion (LTC) strategies - HCCI/PCCI/RCCI, development of hydrogen and ammonia powered engines, computer simulation of internal combustion engines, co-injection strategy for gaseous fuel, and hybrid electric vehicle systems. He has published several reputed international journals, conferences, book chapters and patent. He has chaired numerous national and international conferences. Currently, Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim is working as a Professor in the Automotive Research Centre at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore. He also received a research grant entitled “Development of a novel Injection Strategy for Hydrogen Fuelled Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Engine” funded by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India under the scheme Early Career Research Award.