A quantitative comparison of economic viability, volatile organic compounds, and particle-bound carbon emissions from a diesel engine fueled with biodiesel blends

Abstract

Despite the environmental advantages of biofuel blends, detailed studies on emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), n-alkanes, and particle-bound carbon from diesel engines, particularly when fueled with biodiesel, remain limited. This study addresses these gaps by analyzing biodiesel blends from neem, linseed, and jatropha oils produced via mechanical extraction and assessing their impact on volatile organic compounds and particle-bound carbon emissions in diesel engine. Economic evaluations of production costs, engine modifications, and payback periods are also conducted. The result shows that jatropha biodiesel exhibits a calorific value of 35.7 MJ/kg, while neem biodiesel shows superior oxidative stability due to its low iodine value. Additionally, linseed biodiesel displays favorable cold flow properties due to its high density and cetane value. Compared to D100, the N10 and N30 blend notably reduced high molecular weight PAH emissions by 10.7 % and 38.4 %, respectively, with the N30 blend achieving a remarkable 76 % reduction in formaldehyde emissions. Conversely, the J10 blend increased specific PAHs, while the J30 blend reduced PAHs by 21.3 %. Both L10 and L30 blends showed reduced naphthalene emissions, with the J30 blend notably reducing elemental carbon (EC) by 31.4 %, although organic carbon (OC) slightly increased. In contrast, the N30 blend decreased both EC and OC emissions, demonstrating a dose-dependent relationship between biodiesel concentration and emissions reduction. Overall, Jatropha biodiesel blends offer the best balance of economic efficiency and emission reductions, resulting in shorter payback periods and lower carcinogenic risks. Neem and linseed blends also provide environmental benefits but with varying economic implications, highlighting the trade-offs between production costs and long-term sustainability. • N10 and N30 fuels reduced high molecular weight PAH by 10.7 % and 38.4 %, respectively. • Toluene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene emissions decrease with increasing neem blend. • J30 blend notably reduced EC by 31.4 %, with a slight increase in OC emissions. • Shorter payback periods attributed to lower production costs and higher fuel efficiencies.