Calorific value, flash point and cetane number of biodiesel from cotton, jatropha and neem binary and multi-blends with diesel

The calorific value, flash point and cetane number were investigated for binary and multi-blends of biodiesel from cotton, jatropha and neem with diesel. A binary blend is a fuel mixture comprising biodiesel from one feedstock and diesel, while a multi-blend consists of biodiesel from two or more feedstocks and diesel fuel. Blends were made of B5, B10, B15, B20, B25 and B30 for binary blends of each biodiesel, and a replication of those blend levels for the mixed blends of cotton, neem and jatropha with fossil diesel. The calorific value of the biodiesel/diesel samples was measured using a bomb calorimeter, the flash point was determined by the ASTMD93 method using a Pensky-Martens closed cup tester and the cetane number was determined using a portable cetane/octane meter. It was established that most of the fuel samples have heating values above the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) minimum and close to that of petro-diesel. All 28 fuel samples are consistent with the ASTM standards for flash point and cetane number, they are devoid of carbon deposits and inferior cooking in the CI engines, and they have the shortest ignition delay when burned in the CI engines; hence, they are suitable for use in CI engine operations. Statistical analyses of the experimental data carried out using SPSS software indicate that the data contributed equally in each category to all of the properties, and there are no significant differences between the experimental values.