FUEL PROPERTIES OF BIOETHANOL PRODUCED FROM SWEET POTATO PEELS

Fatai Abiola Lateef

Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry unit),

Federal Polytechnic P.M.B. 1037, Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria E-mail: latfatab@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

In this work, some fuel properties of locally produced ethanol from sweet potato waste were experimentally determined to establish their suitability for use in compression ignition(CI) engines. Five blends (E­₅, E₁₀, E₁₅, E₂₀ and E₃₀) of ethanol with petrol (by volume) were used. The properties determined were Density (0.754kg/m³⁾, Boiling point (73), Flash point (35 ), Pour Point (15), Viscosity (1.0mPas), Cloud point(-8 ), Fire point (30 ), Calorific value (35086.78kJ/kg). These results showed that both the density and viscosity of the blends decreased as the ethanol content in the blends increased. The Cloud Point was found to be -8  for all the blends and gasoline, while the Pour Point of 15 was obtained for gasoline and blends with E₅, E₁₀, E₁₅, E₂₀and E₃₀ ethanol content, respectively. Flash point of 35  was obtained for diesel and the ethanol-gasoline blends with E₅, E₁₀, E₁₅, E₂₀, E₃₀ ethanol respectively. Calorific value of 35086.78, 33744.65, 30315.77, 30238.10 and 27,969.16kJ/kg were obtained for ethanol-gasoline blends. Based on the findings of this study, blends with E₅, E₁₀, E₁₅, E₂₀, E₃₀ percent ethanol content were found to have acceptable fuel properties for use as supplementary fuel in CI engines. The volume of ethanol produced from 500g of the sample was 730cm³.

Keywords: Bioethanol, Potato waste, Compression Ignition (CI) engines, Calorific value, Fire point.