Performance, Combustion, and Emission Analysis of Detarium senegalense Biodiesel in a Compression-Ignition Engine

Growing research on renewable energy sources has spurred the search for non-edible biodiesel feedstocks. This research explores the biodiesel production from Detarium senegalense seed oil, its fuel characteristics, and engine performance on a compression-ignition (CI) engine. Biodiesel was produced through base-catalyzed transesterification (6:1 methanol to oil ratio and KOH catalyst) and mixed with diesel at 10, 20, and 30% (DSB10, DSB20, and DSB30). ASTM standards were used to determine the fuel properties, with the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of the engine determined at 1500 rpm and varying loads. The findings show that fuel properties such as viscosity (2.63–5.03 mm²/s), cetane number (51–56.41), and flash point (96.67–130 °C) are in line with ASTM, suggesting good fuel quality. Brake power rose with load for all blends. BTE decreased slightly at higher loads, with the maximum efficiency for the DSB10 blend (37%). Fuel consumption was higher for biodiesel blends than for diesel-dominant blends due to the lower energy content of biodiesel. Increasing load and biodiesel content led to higher exhaust gas temperature, suggesting improved combustion. Emission measurements showed that CO and HC emissions is reduced as the biodiesel content was raised, while CO₂ emissions increased, indicating better combustion. But NOx emissions were higher due to increased combustion temperatures from oxygenated fuel. Overall, DSB20 offered the optimum performance and emissions. The study shows that Detarium senegalense biodiesel can be utilized as a substitute CI engines' fuel.