2009 Volume 40 Issue 5 Pages 1357-1362
In order to improve the pour point of palm oil biodeisel, palm oil isobutyl ester (PiBE) is made with isobutanol by transesterification. As a result, the pour point of PiBE is 0°C and it is lower than that of palm oil methyl ester (PME), 12.5°C. The combustion characteristics and exhaust emissions of PiBE are investigated using a DI diesel engine, and are compared with that of PME, palm oil 1-butyl ester(PBE), repeseed oil methyl ester(RME) and JIS No.2 gas oil. The thermal efficiency of PiBE is almost the same as that of the other test fuels. Although the HC, CO and Smoke emissions of PiBE are slightly higher than that of PME, these are lower than that of the gas oil. It is concluded that PiBE is a good alternative diesel fuel.
