The performance and emission studies of biodiesel produced from tea seed oil and its blend with diesel fuel

The aim of this experimental work is the investigation of Camellia sinensis (tea seed) as an alternative feedstock for the production of a biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel was prepared from the tea seed by transesterification of the crude oil with methanol in the presence of NaOH as a catalyst. Properties of tea seed oil and biodiesel produced by transesterification were within the limits of ASTM and EN standards. According to test results, density, viscosity, flashpoint and pour point values of blends increased with tea-seed biodiesel, calorific value and cetane number values were found to decreased with increased tea-seed biodiesel. The study showed that performance characteristics were slightly worse than the diesel fuel but biodiesel fuels carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions decreased up to 18.45% and 19.22% respectively however, nitrogen oxides emissions increased up to 16.86%. The study revealed that teaseed biodiesel –diesel fuel blends can be used as alternative fuel in conventional diesel engines without any major modification. The best alternative fuel blend for diesel engines is B20 biodiesel-diesel fuel blends. This is not only for its performance characteristics but also for environment aspects.