Determination of fuel properties of diesel - canola oil, diesel - canola oil biodiesel, canola oil - canola oil biodiesel mixtures

In this study, biodiesel (methyl ester) that was acquired by using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and methanol (CH3OH) in the two-step transesterification method was produced from canola oil that was obtained from a local market. Physicochemical properties of canola oil methyl ester (COME), canola oil (CO) and euro diesel (ED) were investigated experimentally. The physicochemical properties of COME including density at 15°C, kinematic viscosity at 40°C, water content and flash point, were measured as 881.07 kg/m3, 4.703 mm2/s, 450.07 mg/kg, and 170°C, respectively and it was found that all of the measured values were in the range of values obtained from EN14214 and ASTM 6751 standard test methods. Possessing a high flash point temperature makes COME very robust and reliable fuel for transportation. The calorific value of COME was obtained as 39.98 MJ/kg that is in the range of calorific values documented in EN14213 standard. The color value of COME was found to be 0.6 that is in the range of color values written in ASTM D1500 standard. Moreover, physicochemical properties such as kinematic viscosity, density, calorific value, flash point, water content and color were experimentally examined for COME-CO,COME-ED and CO-ED mixtures and they were compared to values documented in biodiesel testing method standards for each physicochemical property. Depending on a blend ratio, a temperature effect on kinematic viscosity and density was evaluated. Based on the measured values, it was concluded that the canola oil that is rich in terms of oleic acid can be utilized as an alternative biodiesel fuel.