Fuel properties of Brassica juncea oil methyl esters blended with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel

Brassica juncea is a drought-tolerant member of the Brassicaceae plant family with high oil content and a short growing season that is tolerant of low quality soils. It was investigated as a feedstock for production of biodiesel along with evaluation of subsequent fuel properties, both neat and in blends with petroleum diesel fuel. These results were compared against relevant fuel standards such as ASTM D6751, EN 14214, ASTM D975, EN 590, and ASTM D7467. Crude B. juncea oil was extracted from unconditioned seeds utilizing a continuous tubular radial expeller. The oil was then chemically refined via degumming, neutralization and bleaching to render it amenable to direct homogeneous sodium methoxide-catalyzed transesterification. The principal fatty acid detected in B. juncea oil was erucic acid (44.1%). The resulting biodiesel yielded fuel properties compliant with the biodiesel standards with the exception of oxidative stability and kinematic viscosity in the case of EN 14214. Addition of tert-butylhydroquinone and blending with soybean oil-derived biodiesel ameliorated these deficiencies. The fuel properties of B5 and B20 blends of B. juncea oil methyl esters (BJME) in ultra-low sulfur (<15 ppm S) diesel (ULSD) fuel were within the ranges specified in the petrodiesel standards ASTM D975, EN 590 and ASTM D7467 with the exception of derived cetane number in the case of EN 590. This deficiency was attributed to the inherently low cetane number of the certification-grade ULSD, as it did not contain performance-enhancing additives. In summary, this study reports new fuel property data for BJME along with properties of B5 and B20 blends in ULSD. Such results will be useful for the development of B. juncea as an alternative source of biodiesel fuel

Kapok oil methyl esters

The increased need for biodiesel feedstocks has caused various vegetable oils to be examined for this purpose. In the present work, the methyl esters of kapok (Ceiba pentandra) oil were prepared. The essential fuel properties were comprehensively determined and evaluated in comparison to specifications in biodiesel standards and some prior results. The kinematic viscosity of kapok oil methyl esters was greater than expected, an observation traced to the elevated amounts of methyl esters with cyclic moieties. Overall, kapok oil is a potential biodiesel feedstock. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of kapok methyl esters are reported

Complete Utilization of Spent Coffee Grounds To Produce Biodiesel, Bio-Oil, and Biochar

This study presents the complete utilization of spent coffee grounds to produce biodiesel, bio-oil, and biochar. Lipids extracted from spent grounds were converted to biodiesel. The neat biodiesel and blended (B5 and B20) fuel properties were evaluated against ASTM and EN standards. Although neat biodiesel displayed high viscosity, moisture, sulfur, and poor oxidative stability, B5 and B20 met ASTM blend specifications. Slow pyrolysis of defatted coffee grounds was performed to generate bio-oil and biochar as valuable co-products. The effect of feedstock defatting was assessed through bio-oil analyses including elemental and functional group composition, compound identification, and molecular weight and boiling point distributions. Feedstock defatting reduced pyrolysis bio-oil yields, energy density, and aliphatic functionality, while increasing the number of low-boiling oxygenates. The high bio-oil heteroatom content will likely require upgrading. Additionally, biochar derived from spent and defatted grounds were analyzed for their physicochemical properties. Both biochars displayed similar surface area and elemental constituents. Application of biochar with fertilizer enhanced sorghum–sudangrass yields over 2-fold, indicating the potential of biochar as a soil amendment

Distribuição, probabilidade de ocorrência e período de retorno dos índices de erosividade EI30 e KE>25 em Seropédica - RJ Erosivity indexes EI30 and KE>25 at Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: distribution, occurrence probability and return period

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de estudar as características da erosividade da chuva em Seropédica (RJ), quanto à sua distribuição, probabilidade de ocorrência e período de retorno. Para isso, foi utilizada uma série mensal de dados pluviométricos referente ao período de 1973 a 2002 e, com o auxílio de modelos ajustados para a região, foi possível obter os índices mensais e anuais de erosividade EI30 e KE>25. Com base nos resultados obtidos, foi possível concluir que: a) os valores médios anuais de EI30 e de KE>25 foram de 5.960,4 MJ mm ha-1 h-1 e de 99,2 MJ ha-1, respectivamente, e estão associados a períodos de retorno de 1,97 ano, com uma probabilidade de ocorrência de 50,82%; e b) valores anuais de EI30 da ordem de 5.995; 7.262; 7.684; 7.895; 8.022 e 8.064 MJ mm ha-1 h-1 e de KE>25 da ordem de 99,8; 122,7; 130,3; 134,1; 136,4 e 137,1 MJ ha-1, são esperados, em média, uma vez a cada 2; 5; 10; 20; 50 e 100 anos, respectivamente.<br>This work was carried out in order to study the distribution, the occurrence probability and the return period of the rainfall erosivity in Seropédica city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. It was considered a continuous rain gauges series for the period from 1973 to 2002, and by using specific adjustment models for the region, it was determined the annual and monthly erosivity indexes EI30 and KE>25. With the obtained results, it was possible to conclude that: a) the annual erosivity indexes values EI30 and KE>25 were 5,960.4 MJ mm ha-1 and 99.2 MJ ha-1 , respectively, which was expected to occur at least once every 1.97 year, with an occurrence probability of 50.82%; and b) annual values EI30 of 5,995; 7,262; 7,684; 7,895 8,022 and8,064 MJ mm ha-1 and annual values KE>25 of 99.8; 122.7; 130.3; 134.1; 136.4 and 137.1 MJ ha-1 are expected at least once every 2; 5; 10; 20; 50 and 100 years, respectively