Page 459 - Advances in Eco-Fuels for a Sustainable Environment

412 Advances in Eco-Fuels for a Sustainable Environment

Fig. 15.4 LPG-diesel dual fuel engine [11].

Table 15.1 Availability of modern automotive fuels

Fuel Compressed Hydrogen
type Gasoline Biodiesel natural gas (CNG) fuel cell
Current Abundant Moderate Abundant Scarce
Future Moderate– Abundant Moderate Abundant
Scarce

15.3 Biodiesel in CI engine

Biodiesels are renewable in nature, biodegradable, and obtained from more environ-
mentally friendly resources such as vegetable oil, animal fat, and various waste
sources. The biodiesels obtained from nonedible oils have gained attention in recent
years due to their availability, useful derivatives, and cost effectiveness as well as their
ability to reduce the need for edible crops. Biodiesel in the form of blends with diesel
fuel at certain ratios and also pure biodiesels can be utilized in CI engines without
major modification or apparent damage to the engine parts [12, 13]. Owing to its wide-
spread availability, environmentally friendly nature, survival potency, and economic
pricing, biodiesel prepared from nonedible vegetable oil sources is gaining attention
all over the world [14, 15]. Biodiesel obtained from animal fats and vegetable oil is
used in places such as Europe and the United States to minimize air pollution and
reduce the dependency on fossil fuels.
In Europe and the United States, edible oils such as rapeseed oil, soybean oil, and
sunflower oil are utilized as raw materials for the manufacture of biodiesel. Nations
such as India can possibly be a leading producer of biodiesel, as biodiesel can be gath-
ered and sourced from nonedible oils such as Jatropha curcas, Pongamia pinnata,
linseed, neem, Mahua, Kusum (Schleichera trijuga), and castor. Most of these oils
produced presently are not being properly used. Out of these plants, the present focus
in India is on the Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata, which can be grown in arid
areas and wastelands. The oil content in the Jatropha and Pongamia seeds is around
30%–40%. India has about 80–100 million hectares of wasteland that can be utilized
for Jatropha and Pongamia plantations. India is one of the biggest producers of neem