Production of biodiesel from high FFA rice bran oil and its utilization in a small capacity diesel engine

Abstract

Biodiesel is gaining momentum in India and rice bran oil (RBO) could be utilized as a possible source of biodiesel. Since industrial grade RBO has high FFA content, base catalyzed transesterification process is not an appropriate method for production of biodiesel. This study reports two-stage formulation process (esterfication followed by transesterification) to convert industrial grade RBO into biodiesel, physio-chemical characterization of biodiesel and run a small capacity, single cylinder, direct injection diesel engine on biodiesel .The performance and emission results of biodiesel are compared with diesel.