Study of Coconut Biodiesel Transesterification Optimum Parameters to Investigate Diesel Engine Performance with Exhaust Gas Emission Analysis

Abdussalam Khan Bin, Mustafa Khan (2023) Study of Coconut Biodiesel Transesterification Optimum Parameters to Investigate Diesel Engine Performance with Exhaust Gas Emission Analysis. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

	PDF Abdussalam _dsva.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (268kB) | Request a copy
	PDF Thesis master_Abdussalam - 24 pages.pdf Download (412kB)
	PDF (Please get the password by email to repository@unimas.my , or call ext: 3942 / 3973 / 3933) Thesis master_Abdussalam.ftext.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Biodiesel is one of the renewable alternative fuels, which can be obtained from vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel’s global demand has increased significantly over the last decade. The continuous rise in demand requires new technology to produce biodiesel in a more efficient and environmental way. Current biodiesel technology mainly produces biodiesel from crop oils that are commonly edible. Edible oil such as crude coconut oil (COCO) is used in this study. Titration method was performed to indicate crude coconut oil free fatty acid (FFA) value. FFA value of COCO determines which method of transesterification to be performed. This study focuses on acid/base catalysed transesterification using homogenous catalyst to produce biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester) (FAME) from COCO. The optimum parameters of coconut biodiesel (CB) production were studied as well as the physicochemical properties, engine performance and emission analysis. Based on titration performed, FFA value was high with 14.82%. The optimum condition for producing coconut biodiesel were determined to be 0.01:1 v: v catalyst to oil ratio, 0.6:1 v: v methanol to oil ratio, with one hour reaction time at 55°C reaction temperature in acid catalysed esterification process. Whereas for base catalysed transesterification process, the optimum parameters were 0.015:1 w/w catalyst to oil ratio, 6:1 w/w methanol to oil ratio with two (2) hours reaction temperature at 60°C. The optimum condition of acid/base catalysed transesterification produces 98% of ester yield and 95% of biodiesel yield. The engine performance result shows that the engine power output and the mechanical efficiency dropped compared to conventional diesel. On the other hand, the specific fuel consumption increases with the increasing biodiesel blend. For emission analysis, the hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide decrease with the increasing biodiesel blend whereas the nitrogen oxides increased.

Actions (For repository members only: login required)

View Item