Rubber Seed Oil Methyl Ester Synthesis, Engine Performance, and Emission Characteristics of Blends

Abstract

Currently, more than 95% of biodiesel is being produced from edible vegetable oils which may affect the sustainability of biodiesel industries. Rubber seed oil (RSO) is one of the promising non-edible oil for biodiesel synthesis. Higher free fatty acid content of RSO was reduced by ultrasonic assisted esterification reaction. Non-conventional techniques, ultrasonic horn and ultrasonic bath for transesterification of esterified RSO (ERSO) were studied to enhance the yield of rubber seed oil methyl esters (ROME). The effect of transesterification parameters; molar ratio (MR) of methanol/ERSO (3:1-13:1), reaction time (5-50min) and heterogeneous catalyst Ba(OH) 2 ·8H 2 O (2-10wt%of feedstock) on conversion of RSO were investigated and optimized for maximum yield of ROME. The physico-chemical properties of ROME and its various blending with diesel (RDXX) were estimated to suite diesel engine for efficiency (BTE) was achieved at 80% load with RD10 (28.36%) compared to neat diesel (24%) and a drastic improvement of overall 13% increase at all loads. Maximum exhaust gas temperatures for biodiesel blends were found to be lower than neat diesel with rise in pressure by about 4% which ultimately shows slight improvement in the net heat release rate. The emissions of CO, CO 2 and NO X were reduced with the use of ROME blends.

Thermal Degradation Kinetic Study of Rubber Seed Oil and Its Methyl Esters under Inert Atmosphere

“…First generation biodiesel feedstocks are usually categorized as a part of the food chain and account for around 60%–80% of the total biodiesel production cost. , The challenge for the higher cost of biodiesel production can be overcome by using nonedible feedstocks. Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha), , Ricinus communis (Castor), , Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree), , Pongamia pinnata L. (Karanja), Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Polanga), Croton megalocarpus (Musine), Cocos nucifera (coconut), and Mesua ferrea (Nahor) , are sustainable, nonedible raw materials for biodiesel synthesis.…”