Toxic Potential Evaluation of Particulate Matter Emitted from a Constant Speed Compression Ignition Engine: A Comparison between Straight Vegetable Oil and Mineral Diesel

This study was primarily focused on analyzing particulate matter coming out of engine exhaust from diesel and straight vegetable oils (SVO) for the following parameters: (1) Benzene soluble organic fraction (BSOF), (2) Metal traces, and (3) Particulate surface morphology. Hence, the exhaust from a small compression ignition (CI) engine emitted under varying engine load conditions at constant engine speed was extensively analyzed for its chemical constituents and PM morphology. Two fuels, namely mineral diesel and straight vegetable oil, were tested with this engine and the engine emissions were compared in order to assess their relative toxic potential. One of the major findings of this study suggested that by preheating, viscosity of vegetable oil can be lowered to the level of mineral diesel, and vegetable oil gives better particulate emission results than mineral diesel in terms of lower toxic metal emissions as well as less soot formation.