Emission Characteristic of Alkaline-Catalyst Biodiesel

Abstract

Fossil fuel resources are now facing fast depletion due to huge global demand. Factors such as climate change, rising fuel prices and instability in the Middle East, it might be a very good idea to have a biodiesel as a solution for a future. In this study, three biodiesel fuels which produce by several alkaline-base catalysts with methanol via transesterification were tested in a four cylinder Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5 L Intercooler Turbo Diesel Engine. The engine emissions were recorded under 65% loads and within the range of 1000 to 3000 rpm for each sample of fuel compare with diesel fuel. The experimental test was carried out using gas analyzer and smoke detector. All of the biodiesel fuels exhibited the nearly similar emissions performance characteristic at the speed from 1000 rpm to 3000 rpm. Thus from the result, different catalyst did not give huge effecton the exhaust emission characteristic in engine combustion. At the end of the research, NaOCH3 is the best catalyst use to produce UFO biodiesel in order to obtain the lowest emission catalyst.