Technical Evaluation of Pongame and Jatropha B20 Fuels in Pakistan

Refined Pongamia pinnata L. (pongame) oil obtained from indigenous sources in Pakistan was converted successfully to biodiesel using alkaline transesterification in a batch reactor. The optimum reaction conditions (temperature 60 A degrees C, methanol-to-oil ratio 48 % by volume, H2SO4-to-oil ratio 0.2 % by volume, KOH-to-oil ratio a parts per thousand 1 % by volume, stirring speed 600 rpm and reaction time 180 min) were determined from several experiments. The pongame oil biodiesel was analysed according to the American (ASTM D 6751) and European (EN 14214) international standards, showing that its properties were better than that of canola oil and jatropha oil biodiesel fuels. Environmental emissions profile of pongame B20 (20 % biodiesel blended with 80 % mineral diesel) from a compression ignition engine was better than those obtained with canola B20 and jatropha B20. Engine performance of pongame B20 was found to be comparable to jatropha B20. From results obtained in this research it appears technically feasible to harness biodiesel from native pongamia pinnata instead of imported jatropha curcas to meet the ever increasing energy demands of Pakistan.