Characterization of Biodiesel Produced From Terminalia Seed Oil and Engine Performance Evaluation With 10% and 20% Blending Available to Purchase

In this article, biodiesel produced from Terminalia seed oil is characterized. Oil content in Terminalia fruit seed was found to be 46.0%. Free fatty acid (FFA) content in Terminalia seed oil was 6.0%; hence a twostep acid base catalyzed transesterification process was used for producing biodiesel from the Terminalia seed oil. Terminalia seed oil contains 23.47% palmitic, 8.04% stearic 37.90% oleic and 20.97% linoleic acid. Calorific value, kinematic viscosity and density of Terminalia fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) were 39.594 MJ/kg, 5.49 mm²/s and 890.6 kg/m³ respectively. Most of the fuel properties of Terminalia FAME meet ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 biodiesel standards. Cetane index, fire point and pour point of Terminalia FAME were found to be 54.92, 172°C and −1°C respectively. Further, an engine performance study with 10% (B10) and 20% (B20) blending of Terminalia FAME with diesel fuel shows higher brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), lower brake thermal efficiency (BTE), higher peak pressure and early pressure rise in case the blends compared to petroleum based diesel fuel. Terminalia seed thus could be potential feedstock for biodiesel production and its 10% blending with conventional diesel fuel could be used in engine without compromising with the engine performance.