Methyl-ester bio-fuel characteristics as a substitute renewable I.C.E. fuel: 1- Fuel perparation and performance tests of waste vegetable oil as bio-diesel

The production of the Methyl Ester of Waste Vegetable Oil [MEWVO] for use as a bio-diesel fuel has been studied. The essential part of the process is the transesterification of waste vegetable oil with methanol alcohol in the presence of an alkyl sodium hydroxyl-catalyst, to yield the methyl ester bio-diesel of waste vegetable oil as a product and glycerin as a by-product. Bio-diesel production unit has been built to produce about 200 liters of bio-diesel fuel and 40 liters of glycerin daily. Experiments have been performed for the purpose of determining the optimum conditions for the production of MEWVO. It was found that the room temperature of 25 °C; sodium hydroxide catalyst percentage by weight of waste vegetable oil 0.5-0.6 %; stirring time 60 minutes and 50% excess of methanol with NaOCH₃ were optimum conditions. In addition, agitation was not necessary after the reaction mixture became homogeneous. Density, viscosity, calorific value, and Cetane No. of the MEWVO were measured. To test the produced Bio-diesel as a fuel, engine performance tests were performed using tractor diesel engine, 2-cylinder.Helwan 35-IMT of maximum power 26.12 kW at 2200 rpm at B20 (20% bio-diesel+80% pure-diesel).