Palm Fatty Acid Distillate based biodiesel: characterization and Emission analysis

Biodiesel obtained from the acid catalyzed esterification and trans-esterification of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) was characterized using gas chromatographic and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses. Physico-chemical and thermal properties of the biodiesel were evaluated and compared in relation to that of conventional petro-diesel following ASTM and Indian standards. The PFAD-biodiesel blended with different proportion of petro-diesel was also subjected to performance and emission tests at varying loads in order to evaluate its actual performance, when used in a four stroke diesel engine. Exhaust gas analysis showed appreciable reduction of CO2 and hydrocarbons as against the unblended petrodiesel, although reduction of CO was marginal.