The use of rapeseed methyl ester biodiesel in diesel engines

Biodiesel fuel is made from vegetable oil and can be used in existing diesel engines without requiring any modifications. The product is produced by transesterification of vegetable oil which uses alcohol (methanol or ethanol) and is known as methyl ester or ethyl ester. Biodiesel fuel is more environmentally friendly because it is biodegradable. The fuel does not contain sulphur and hence does not produce any sulphurous oxides which are, to a large extent, responsible for acid rain. The fuel does emit CO2 but since this is absorbed by the plants during growth, it offers a net reduction in overall greenhouse gases relative to fossil fuels. The test results on biodiesel fuels showed high friction power with a net reduction in hydrocarbon emissions. The carbon deposits on the injector were similar to those observed when running on diesel while maximum power output was slightly lower due to low heating value of plant fuels.