Exhaust Emission Characteristics of Diesel Engine Using Jatropha Crude Oil Blends

Jatropha biofuel is promising renewal oil to produce biodiesel fuel through transesterification method which is shown in many papers. The ideal diesel alternative fuel obtained considering Jatropha as materials is Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME). It is more desirable than the viewpoint of economical efficiency and CO₂ control to operate a diesel engine with Jatropha crude (JC) oil. It is the purpose of this research to examine a possibility of using advantageous JC oil direct use as diesel engine fuel, in consideration of the sustainable production of the Jatropha biofuel in Mozambique. The adaptability to the diesel engine of diesel oil and the mixed fuel of JC was examined. Jatropha crude oil contains phorbol ester (PEs) which is a promoter of cancer. Measurement of the concentration of PEs in an exhaust gas was performed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Skip cycle operation was performed for diesel engine with an electronically-controlled fuel injection system, and it was checked that the PEs concentration in the exhaust gas in low load operation which imitated cold starting condition. As a result of conducting the experiment by the JC mixed fuel up to JC60 had little influence on indicated thermal efficiency and the exhaust gas components except PM, and it has checked the possibility of utilization. However, PM in an exhaust gas increased in proportion to the mixed ratio of JC. Also in the skip cycle which imitated cold starting, it checked that the PEs concentration in an exhaust gas was below a detection limit.