Comprehensive analysis of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde emissions and performance of a diesel engine using various diesel-vegetable oil and diesel-biodiesel blends

This study investigates the emissions of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, as well as the performance of a diesel engine fueled by various diesel-triglyceride and diesel-biodiesel blends. The biodiesels were synthesized from triglyceride sources, including canola, soybean, palm, coconut oil, and beef tallow. Emission analyses were conducted using Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS). The biodiesel was blended with diesel in specific proportions, allowing for a comparative analysis of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde emissions. Results indicate that the addition of triglycerides and biodiesel to diesel fuel leads to increased emissions of both formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in the engine exhaust, with higher emission levels observed in mixtures containing triglycerides. Notably, canola oil blended with diesel exhibited lower formaldehyde and acetaldehyde emission values than other diesel-vegetable oil blends. Similarly, palm biodiesel demonstrated reduced emission levels compared to other diesel-biodiesel blends. This study concludes that both triglycerides and esters can be effectively blended with diesel fuel for combustion in engines, benefiting from their oxygenating properties that enhance engine performance. However, the performance advantage is most pronounced with mixture proportions of up to 5% for triglycerides and 15% for biodiesel.