**3. Biodiesel production and engine testing**

### **3.1 Biodiesel production**

The biodiesel fuel was produced through the base catalyst transterification process. This provides one of the easiest and more efficient ways to produce the fuel, yielding a return of close to 98%. A biodiesel processor (see Figure 3) with a production capacity of 40 gallons/day was used to produce the biodiesel. The processor contains two tanks: (1) a small tanks for mixing the base catalyst and methanol to create the methoxide required for the reaction, and (2) bigger tank (40 gallons) for mixing the oil with methoxide. The processor contains a small 120V pump which transfers the methoxide into the base oil for mixing. The processor is also equipped with heated coil (in the main reaction tank) to speed up the time required to produce the biodiesel fuel and the glycerin.

Four different oil feedstocks (see Fig .4 ) were tested in thi study: (1) Waste vegetable oil from Coyote Jacks, (2) Waste vegetable oil from JC Alexander, (3) straight or non used peanit oil, and (4) straight or non used coconnut oil. It is noted that Coyote Jacks and JC Alexander are two dinning facilities inside and outside the University. Waste and straight (non used) oils were testd in this to see the effcet of the quality of oil feedstocks on the produced biodiesl fuesl. For the waste vegetbale oil, the waste oil is first heated up to 120°F to evaporate any water present and filtered to eliminate any solid particles in the oil. For all the oil feedstocks use in this study, a titration was performed to determine the exact amount of base catalyst needed for the reaction based on the amount of biodiesel fuel to be produced.

The mixing of the base oil (See Figure 3) and methoxide (methol and cataltyst) will help to break down all the fatty amino acids present in the base oil. The mixing process takes up to 1 hour. After that, we let the mixture to settle down for 7 to 8 hours. This will help to separate the Biodiesel fuel from Glycerin as shown in Fig. 5 (the Biodiesel is on the top and Glycerin in the bottom). After the separation of Glycerin from the Biodiesel, the fuel is washed with water and dried to remove any excess methanol and glycerin present in the final product (B100 Biodiesel fuel). The quality of the final biodiesel product is tested in the laboratory and the correponsding biodiesel fuel blends (B5, B10, B15, B20) are prepared for the engine testing. It is noted that B20 for example is 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel.

The principal objective of this study is to produce quality biodiesel fuels using different oil feed stocks and test the performance and emissions of Diesel engine using different biodiesel fuel blends (B5, B10, B15 and B20). The combustion performance (torque and engine horsepoqer) and emissions (CO, CO2, HC's, and NOX) from the Diesel engine using a Bio-Diesel fuel blends and the conventional petroleum Diesel fuel will be compared.

The biodiesel fuel was produced through the base catalyst transterification process. This provides one of the easiest and more efficient ways to produce the fuel, yielding a return of close to 98%. A biodiesel processor (see Figure 3) with a production capacity of 40 gallons/day was used to produce the biodiesel. The processor contains two tanks: (1) a small tanks for mixing the base catalyst and methanol to create the methoxide required for the reaction, and (2) bigger tank (40 gallons) for mixing the oil with methoxide. The processor contains a small 120V pump which transfers the methoxide into the base oil for mixing. The processor is also equipped with heated coil (in the main reaction tank) to speed

Four different oil feedstocks (see Fig .4 ) were tested in thi study: (1) Waste vegetable oil from Coyote Jacks, (2) Waste vegetable oil from JC Alexander, (3) straight or non used peanit oil, and (4) straight or non used coconnut oil. It is noted that Coyote Jacks and JC Alexander are two dinning facilities inside and outside the University. Waste and straight (non used) oils were testd in this to see the effcet of the quality of oil feedstocks on the produced biodiesl fuesl. For the waste vegetbale oil, the waste oil is first heated up to 120°F to evaporate any water present and filtered to eliminate any solid particles in the oil. For all the oil feedstocks use in this study, a titration was performed to determine the exact amount of base catalyst

The mixing of the base oil (See Figure 3) and methoxide (methol and cataltyst) will help to break down all the fatty amino acids present in the base oil. The mixing process takes up to 1 hour. After that, we let the mixture to settle down for 7 to 8 hours. This will help to separate the Biodiesel fuel from Glycerin as shown in Fig. 5 (the Biodiesel is on the top and Glycerin in the bottom). After the separation of Glycerin from the Biodiesel, the fuel is washed with water and dried to remove any excess methanol and glycerin present in the final product (B100 Biodiesel fuel). The quality of the final biodiesel product is tested in the laboratory and the correponsding biodiesel fuel blends (B5, B10, B15, B20) are prepared for the engine testing. It is noted that B20 for example is 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum

Fig. 2. Transesterification of Vegetable Oils

**3. Biodiesel production and engine testing** 

up the time required to produce the biodiesel fuel and the glycerin.

needed for the reaction based on the amount of biodiesel fuel to be produced.

**3.1 Biodiesel production** 

diesel fuel.

Fig. 3. Biodiesel Processor with a capacity of 40 gallons/day

Fig. 4. Straight and waste vegetable oil before transesterification

Fig. 5. Biodiesel and Glycerin
