BIODIESEL AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL LEADING TO CLEANER ENVIRONMENT

CLEOTILDE A. BULAN
Chemicals and Mineral Division Industrial Technology Development Institute Department of Science and Technology, DOST Cpd., Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines

What is BIODIESEL?

Refers to neat vegetable oils used as diesel fuel as well as neat methyl esters prepared from vegetable oils or animal fats and even blends of conventional diesel fuel with vegetable oils or methyl esters.

How to make Biodiesel?

Transesterification - transformation of one type of an ester into another type of ester.

CH2COOR
CHCOOR CH2COOR
Triglyceride

CH2OH
+ 3 CH3OH
Methanol

3 CH3COOR + CHOH
Methyl ester

CH2OH
Glycerol

Why use Biodiesel?

Reliable, renewable, biodegradable and non-toxic

Environment friendly
Fuel properties comparable to mineral diesel Can be produced from any kind of oil (vegetable, animal source and used frying oils) Being agricultural product, all countries have the abilities to produce and control this energy source

Can strengthen economy

Can be used as a way of stimulating and supporting agriculture

Biodiesel Emissions
Reduction of net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 100% Reduction of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 100% Reduction of soot emissions by 40-60% Reduction of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 1050% Reduction of hydrocarbon emissions by 10-50% Reduction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Reduction or increase of nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by 5-10% depending on the age of the vehicle and the tuning of the engine.

WHAT IS COCONUT METHYL ESTER

Coconut Methyl Ester (CME) is a coconut oil derived ester, with the carbon chain from C8 to C18. It has a lubricity, solvency and detergency properties. With its density, kinematic viscosity and other properties similar to diesel fuel. CME can be used as a pure fuel or as a Petrodiesel enhancer/additive for all diesel engines and it is now ready for commercial application. It can used in any proportion in any conventional diesel engine without engine modification.

Chemical and Physical Requirements

Table 1 Chemical and Physical Requirements Property CME Limit Flash point Pensky Martens C, min. Water & Sediments % vol. Max. o Kinematic viscosity @ 40 C, mm2/s Sulfated ash % mass max. Sulfur @ mass max.
o

Test Method PNS 613 / ASTM D 93 PNS 707 / ASTM D 2709 PNS 407 / ASTM D 445 PNS 2025 / ASTM D 874 PNS 504 / ASTM D 2622 PNS 1685 / ASTM D 5453 PNS 505 / ASTM D 4294 PNS 502 / ASTM D 1266 PNS 379 / ASTM D 130 PNS 653 / ASTM D 613 PNS 706 / ASTM D 2500 PNS 708 / ASTM D 4530 PNS 2024 / ASTM D 664 PNS 2026 / ASTM D 974 a PNS 2022 / AOCS Ea6-51 (1989) PNS 2023 / AOCS Ca 14 -- 56 (1997)a PNS 2028 / ASTM D 4951 PNS 2027 / ASTM D 1160

100.0 0.050 2.0 4.5 0.020 0.050

Copper strip corrosion 3 hrs @ 50 C max. Cetane number, min. o Cloud point, C max. Carbon residue,100% sample,% mass, max. Acid number, mg KOH/g,max. Free glycerin, % mass, max. Total glycerin, % mass, max. Phosphorus,% mass,max. o Distillation AET 90% recovered C, max. Transition standard (Source:DOE/TCPPA)
a

No. 3 42a Report 0.050 0.50 0.02 0.24a 0.001 360

a

Critical Key Points on CME Fuel Quality

CME Flash Point limit for D93 is set at 100C to ensure the removal of excess methanol used during manufacturing process. Small amount of residual methanol reduce the flash point. Methanol can also affect fuel pumps, seals, and can result poor combustion. Sulfated Ash test ensures the removal of manufacturing catalysts, high level of catalysts in the fuel can result in injector deposits or filter plugging. Acid numbers limit is 0.5 max., higher than the set limit may shown with fuel system deposits, and reduced the life fuel pumps and filters. Free and Total glycerin number measure the complete conversion oils into ester products. If these numbers are too high, fuel gumming and engine fouling will occur.

Reduction of smoke emission after using 1% CME into petrodiesel

Opacity or "K" Reading (m -1)
2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0
0 200 1,400 3,900 5,033 15,663 16,928

2.32

1.24 1.03 0.81 0.43 0.35

0.24

Road Run Kilom eter (Km )

Equivalent Diesel Particulate (PPM)

450.00 400.00 350.00 300.00 250.00 200.00 150.00 100.00 50.00 0.00
0 200 1 , 400 3, 900 5, 033 1 5, 663 1 6, 928

386.67

206.67 171.67 135.00 71.67 58.33 40.00

Road Run Kilom eter (Km )

EFFECTS OF CME ON THE ENGINE

Before using CME After using 1% CME

Before using CME

After using 1% CME After using 1% CME

Dynamometer Test Results

POWER TORQUE CURVE
LSD

10.80 10.60 10.40 10.20 10.00 9.80 9.60 9.40 9.20 9.00 8.80 1500 2000 2500 3000
RPM

1 CM E-1 % 3 1 CM E-1 % 5 2% CM E-1 3 2% CM E-1 5 5% CM E-1 3 5% CM E-1 5

TORQUE (kg-m)

3500

4000

4500

Torque curve increase between 2.5% to 3.2% for CME blends as compared to Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD)

California Buses Opacity Test Results

3 2.65

Opacity or "K" Reading (m-1 )

2.5 with 1% CME 2 1.6 1.5 1.05 1 0.54 0.5 0.28 0.39 0.19 0.26 0.79 1.89 1.9 w/o CME 1.53

0 0 900 1800 2700 3600 4500

Distance Travelled (Km)

COST BENEFITS USING CME

Average increase of 1 to 2 kilometers for every liter of diesel consumed.
Translates into savings of P 0.916 to P 2.85 for every liter of diesel fuel.

SUMMARY
BIODIESEL (FAME) is a stable, cleaner-burning diesel fuel replacement made from natural, renewable and biodegradable sources. It cuts emission, no sulfur, no lead, no halogens, easy to make and safe to handle. No doubt it is a very promising fuel alternative leading to cleaner environment.

THANK YOU