Development of an additive for diesel fuel based on vegetable oil production wastes

Abstract

With an average carbon numbers ranging from 10 to 22, diesel fuel is a combination of hydrocarbons [1]. During cold temperatures, large wax crystal lattices begin to solidify, leading to a phenomenon named as diesel fuel gelling [2]. This may lead to several problems. The lower the temperature, the harder the vaporization of the diesel oil and the longer the start delay of the engine [3]. This problem needs to be solved through cold flow additive improvers. This experimental analysis has for fundamental goal to find out how the sunflower oil waste can be utilized as a bio-additive to implement the cold temperature properties of the Petro-diesel. This is achieved through the treatment of sunflower oil waste with acetone, before extracting the acid present through distillation. The Free Fatty Acid (FFA) was determined using a pipette. Using KOH as a catalyst and ethanol as an alcohol, biodiesel was obtained through transesterification with a temperature ranging between 50 to 60 degrees Celsius. The ester obtain was later mixed with the Petro-diesel. The CFPP, CPP and lubrication ability of this mixture was analyzed and compared with the initial Petro-diesel. Also, some IR-spectra of the mixture were determined. From the result received it can be said that the mixture of additives and diesel fuel obtained has a good lubrication and filtration ability.