Interactions of Oxygenates with Neem and Tigernut Oil Methyl Ester: A Study

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel is an efficient, renewable, eco-friendly, and non-toxic fuel. It is quickly replacing Petro-diesel as the preferred alternative fuel. The present environmental crisis necessitates improvements in the quality and qualities of biodiesel. Additives containing oxygenates have been shown to perform a crucial effect. This study set out to evaluate how various oxygenates affect common biodiesel characteristics as viscosity, heat content, density, specific gravity, flash point, pour point, and cloud point. Biodiesel was created from tiger and neem oil, which was derived from tiger and neem seed. Biodiesels qualities were analysed and compared to ASTM requirements. Biodiesel was mixed with methanol, ethanol, and diethyl ether (oxygenates) at 10%, 20%, and 30% concentrations to see how they affected the final product. At 400 degrees Celsius, the kinematic viscosity of pure Neem Oil Methyl Ester (NOME) was measured at 5.582 mm2 s-1, whereas that of pure Tiger Oil Methyl Ester (TOME) was measured at 4.317 mm2 s-1. For NOME70:30DE, the lowest kinematic viscosity value was measured at 1.582 mm2 s-1, while for TOME70:30 DE, it was measured at 1.5537 mm2 s-1. Biodiesel blend densities were measured to be between 0.8293 and 0.8783 g/ml. This experiment also looked at the flash point and heat content of biodiesel mixes. Our research shows that adding oxygenates to biodiesel blends is a great method to boost the fuels performance and longevity.

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