USE OF YELLOW OLEANDER (THEVETIA PERUVIANA) SEED OIL BIODIESEL AS CETANE AND LUBRICITY IMPROVER FOR PETRODIESEL

The performance of a cetane and lubricity improver in a diesel engine can be evaluated respectively by cetane number and average wear scar diameter. Cetane number is a measurement of the combustion quality of diesel fuel; on the other hand, the lubricity of diesel fuel is indicated by the wear scar diameter value. An optimum level of cetane number and lubricity is very much essential for the smooth functioning of a diesel engine. As biodiesel possesses a higher value of cetane number and good lubricity value, therefore it may be used as cetane and lubricity improver in conventional petrodiesel. In this study, the yellow oleander seed oil is converted to fatty acid methyl esters (YOME) and fatty acid ethyl esters (YOEE) by transesterification reaction using a heterogeneous catalyst in methanol and ethanol, respectively. The yields of biodiesels obtained are 96 wt% for YOME and 94 wt% for YOEE at ambient temperature in 3 h and 3.5 h respectively. In this work, YOME and YOEE are used successfully as cetane and lubricity improver in petrodiesel and biodiesel blends. We are draining out our existing energy resources and therefore, biodiesel has evolved as an alternative fuelling option, and it has a big role to play in the future.