Characterization of Chia seed oil methyl ester as an alternate fuel for diesel engine

The present world is questing for low carbon fuel, which can replace diesel and biodiesels are one such promising fuel. In this study, the feasibility of Chia seed oil as a blended bio-diesel for use as partial replacement to Diesel is evaluated through transesterification process. 10 grams of dried, moisture free Chia seeds were subject to transesterification process using methanol as a replacement alcohol. NaOH was used as a catalyst. The resulting mixture was stirred for one hour at 700 rpm, maintaining 70°C. The methyl ester was separated after one hour settling period and washed several times using distilled water at 100°C and dried at 70 °C and stored. Impurities were removed by Decalcification process that resulted in 80% yield. Characterization of the oil was used different blends from B05 - B25 in an incremental steps five percent by volume with diesel. Major fluid and thermodynamic properties like viscosity, density, specific gravity, etc. were extracted as per the ASTM prescribed standards. The results show that the flash and fire points of Chia seed oil are respectively 2.96 times and 2.57 times higher compared to Diesel, while the kinematic viscosity and density are comparable but 6.88% and 5.2% higher. Further investigation shows that biodiesel blend B20 could be a second fuel for diesel engine.