Evaluating the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of decanol-enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel engines

This study examines the performance, combustion characteristics, and emission properties of Sterculia foetida biodiesel (SFB) enhanced with decanol for diesel engine applications. SFB was produced using a two-stage catalytic transesterification process, achieving a 95.2 % conversion rate under optim...

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Main Authors: Christopher Selvam D, Yuvarajan Devarajan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025010126
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author Christopher Selvam D
Yuvarajan Devarajan
author_facet Christopher Selvam D
Yuvarajan Devarajan
author_sort Christopher Selvam D
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the performance, combustion characteristics, and emission properties of Sterculia foetida biodiesel (SFB) enhanced with decanol for diesel engine applications. SFB was produced using a two-stage catalytic transesterification process, achieving a 95.2 % conversion rate under optimized conditions. Decanol was added as a co-solvent at 10 % (SFB90D10) and 20 % (SFB80D20) concentrations to improve key biodiesel attributes, including energy content and miscibility. Engine performance tests on a single-cylinder diesel engine showed encouraging results, with SFB80D20 exhibiting a 4 % improvement in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and SFB90D10 showing a 2.5 % increase compared to pure SFB (SFB100). The addition of decanol also enhanced fuel efficiency, with a 3.5 % reduction in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for SFB80D20 and a 1.8 % decrease for SFB90D10. Emission analysis demonstrated that decanol blends significantly reduced harmful pollutants. SFB80D20 achieved reductions of 5.8 % in carbon monoxide (CO), 6.7 % in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions, and 5.1 % in smoke opacity, highlighting the environmental benefits of this blend. Importantly, the decanol blends had minimal impact on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, which remains a critical concern in diesel combustion. This study showcases the potential of decanol-enhanced SFB biodiesel to improve both performance and sustainability. Decanol acts as an effective co-solvent, enhancing energy output, improving emissions control, and maintaining low NOx emissions. These findings suggest a promising pathway for cleaner, more efficient diesel engine operation and support the broader use of biodiesel as a sustainable fuel alternative.
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spelling doaj-art-3e3c9d8e25ef49b1bf4c3b9ef2a0a7142025-08-20T03:14:59ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-06-012610493610.1016/j.rineng.2025.104936Evaluating the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of decanol-enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel enginesChristopher Selvam D0Yuvarajan Devarajan1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaCorresponding author.; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaThis study examines the performance, combustion characteristics, and emission properties of Sterculia foetida biodiesel (SFB) enhanced with decanol for diesel engine applications. SFB was produced using a two-stage catalytic transesterification process, achieving a 95.2 % conversion rate under optimized conditions. Decanol was added as a co-solvent at 10 % (SFB90D10) and 20 % (SFB80D20) concentrations to improve key biodiesel attributes, including energy content and miscibility. Engine performance tests on a single-cylinder diesel engine showed encouraging results, with SFB80D20 exhibiting a 4 % improvement in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and SFB90D10 showing a 2.5 % increase compared to pure SFB (SFB100). The addition of decanol also enhanced fuel efficiency, with a 3.5 % reduction in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for SFB80D20 and a 1.8 % decrease for SFB90D10. Emission analysis demonstrated that decanol blends significantly reduced harmful pollutants. SFB80D20 achieved reductions of 5.8 % in carbon monoxide (CO), 6.7 % in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions, and 5.1 % in smoke opacity, highlighting the environmental benefits of this blend. Importantly, the decanol blends had minimal impact on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, which remains a critical concern in diesel combustion. This study showcases the potential of decanol-enhanced SFB biodiesel to improve both performance and sustainability. Decanol acts as an effective co-solvent, enhancing energy output, improving emissions control, and maintaining low NOx emissions. These findings suggest a promising pathway for cleaner, more efficient diesel engine operation and support the broader use of biodiesel as a sustainable fuel alternative.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025010126Alternative fuelsDiesel EnginesWaste-to-EnergyIndustrial RelationsGreen energy
spellingShingle Christopher Selvam D
Yuvarajan Devarajan
Evaluating the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of decanol-enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel engines
Results in Engineering
Alternative fuels
Diesel Engines
Waste-to-Energy
Industrial Relations
Green energy
title Evaluating the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of decanol-enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel engines
title_full Evaluating the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of decanol-enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel engines
title_fullStr Evaluating the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of decanol-enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel engines
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of decanol-enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel engines
title_short Evaluating the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of decanol-enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel engines
title_sort evaluating the performance combustion and emission characteristics of decanol enhanced sterculia foetida biodiesel in diesel engines
topic Alternative fuels
Diesel Engines
Waste-to-Energy
Industrial Relations
Green energy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025010126
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AT yuvarajandevarajan evaluatingtheperformancecombustionandemissioncharacteristicsofdecanolenhancedsterculiafoetidabiodieselindieselengines