Engine performance operated with biodiesel produced from the transesterification of African pear seed oil catalyzed with acidified empty palm fruit bunch ash

Abstract

This research evaluates the performance of Africa pear seed methyl ester operated on a diesel engine produced from transesterification reaction in a heterogeneous catalyzed process. The Africa pear seed oil was extracted using sohxlet apparatus via solvent extraction while the empty palm fruit bunch ash (EPFBA) was synthesized from palm fruit bunch and then activated with acid. The oil was characterized using American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standard. The results showed that the oil has an acceptable acid value less than 5% and has comparable properties with other edible and non-edible oils. The EPFBA was discovered to have more pores and surface area on activation with acid. The physiochemical and thermal properties of biodiesel produced met the ASTM standard and were within the acceptable limit. The convectional diesel, biodiesel, and their blends were used to run a two-cylinder, four-stroke engine at different engine speeds and at constant load. The engine performance shows that more fuel is consumed with biodiesel and the rate of consumption decreases when blended with diesel. The brake power (Bp), torque and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of engine performance increased as the speed increased to 2000rpm and slightly decreased as the speed increased beyond 2000 rpm, and these properties are best with engine operated with biodiesel. The engine performance result shows that biodiesel blend (B20) has Bp and BTE less than that of petro-diesel by 3% and 17% respectively. Therefore, the acid activated empty palm fruit bunch ash (AAEPFBA) catalyst has the potential to convert the Africa pear seed oil (APSO) to biodiesel, and the biodiesel/blends can perform in a diesel engine without engine modification.