Diesterol: The Future Fuel for IC Engines

by P. Kannadasan, 1st yr B.E. (Mechanical Engg.)

Abstract
Diesterol is a new specific term which denotes a mixture of fossil diesel fuel,
vegetable oil methyl ester called biodiesel and plant derived ethanol. This refers specifically
the combination of diesel fuel, bioethanol and methyl ester produced through
transesterification. The mixture of these, i.e. diesterol, was patented under the Iranian patent
No. 39407, dated 12-3-2007. The main aim of using diesterol was to reduce engine exhaust
NOx, CO, HC and smoke emissions due to application of biofuel and the increase of fuel
oxygen content. It was needed to prepare suitable low cost and renewable additives. The
optimum ratio of bioethanol and biodiesel for diestserol was 40/60 considering fuel oxygen
content, fuel price and mixture properties. Bioethanol was added to enhance the oxygenated
component in the fuel, while the methyl ester was added to maintain the fuel stability at low
temperatures.

Introduction
Energy demand is increasing continuously due to rapid growth in population and
industrialization development. The development of energy sources is not keeping pace with
spiraling consumption. Even developed countries are not able to compensate even after
increasing the energy production multifold. The major energy demand is provided from the
conventional energy sources such as coal, oil, natural gas, etc. Two major problems, which
every country is facing with these conventional fuels, are depletion of fossil fuels and
deterioration of environment.
The biofuels can be obtained from biomass which can be obtained from various
sources like wastes (agro industries, corp residues), standing forests and energy crops (edible
and nonedible crops). The amount of biofuel that a plant can produce depends on how much
sunlight the plant receives and the amount it can store as carbohydrates.
Demand for both bioethanol and biodiesel is forecast to rise sharply. Biodiesel output
by the firm is expected to reach 600 M l/y by 2012 when the Brazilian biodiesel market
should total 2.5 bn l. In Australia, BP plans to use hydrogenation technology to produce 2 bn
l/y of diesel containing 5% biodiesel by 2008. Ethanol production by the firm is expected to
reach 80 M tonne/y, with biofuels from BP providing over 50% of the 350 M l required in
Australia in 2008.
 Due to depletion of fossil fuels the demand for biofuels has been increasing for years
back. Although biodiesel and bioethanol were studied for more than a decade ago, its
application has been limited due to its high emissions. Now a new kind of biomass, Diesterol
was emerging as the future fuel for IC engines. The following section will focus on some of
the factors which need to be taken care for efficient use of Diesterol.

Performance parameters for Diesterol

1. Selection of fuel blend ratio
The ultimate aim was to get a suitable blend of bioethanol, biodiesel and diesel fuel which
was then called Diesterol. Another idea of developing a suitable blend was to can overcome
the problem of solubility of bioethanol in diesel fuel and maintaining the stability of the blend
at low temperatures as well.
2. Fuel stability
One of the main advantages of using fuel blends in diesel engines is to keep the engine
modification minimal. A solution is a single-phase liquid system, homogeneous at the
molecular level. Some e-diesel formulations may be a solution of bioethanol, plus additives
in diesel fuel. Some materials such as emulsifier, cosolvent, isopropanol were added to the
mixtures to satisfy homogeneity and to prevent phase separation. Presence of water in
bioethanol or diesel fuel can critically reduce solubility. Blending of up to 4–5% bioethanol
can place no additional temperature restrictions on these fuels (if no water is present). Thus,
diesel fuel chemical properties can have a large effect on bioethanol solubility. Methyl ester
can be added to increase miscibility of bioethanol. At low temperature close to diesel fuel
pour point, adding 8% biodiesel to the blend increases fuel stability without phase separation.
3. Fuel oxygen content
The oxygenated fuel is the most common additive that improves fuel combustion and reduces
the engine emission level. Several oxygenated compounds were used for this purpose but the
most common ones are biodiesels, alcohols, and ethers. Ethers that are octane enhancer
increase fuel oxygen content but their use is limited because of the cancer risk probability and
none renewability. On the other hand, bioethanol is an aliphatic alcohol which is produced
from plants and agricultural wastes and is more suitable in comparison to the other alcohols.
4. Fuel blend properties
Several fuel blends were prepared and tested; four of them are Diesterols. Four different
diesel–biodiesel blend ratios were prepared. Diesterol is a fuel mixture that contains diesel
fuel, bioethanol and biodiesel regardless of their quantity.
5. Cetane number
Using 12% bioethanol to diesel fuel can reduce the fuel blend’s cetane number to 40. But
addition of methyl ester will improve bioethanol–diesel cetane number due to higher cetane
number of methyl ester. This cetane number could be regarded as a suitable one to be used in
diesel engines.
6. Other fuel properties
The fuel blends could resist low temperature and it can be more suitable for cold climate.
During winter, the diesel fuel blends with small amount of kerosene or low temperature flow
improving additives so phase separation or fuel gelling can be avoided. The solubility of
bioethanol in diesel fuel is low especially in low temperatures. Phase separation occurs when
bioethanol–diesel blend temperature is reduced. Adding methyl ester to bioethanol–diesel can
help to solve the phase separation problem at lower temperatures. By adding 10–20% of
methyl ester and bioethanol to the diesel fuel, the pour point was reduced from 2 C to 7 C
making the new mixture suitable for cold climate.
Conclusion
Biomass has always been a major source of energy for mankind from ancient times.
Presently, it contributes around 10–14% of the world’s energy supply. Biomass can be
converted into three main types of products: 1. electrical/heat energy, 2. fuel for transport
sector and 3. feedstock for chemicals. Diesterol which is blend derived from biomass can be
utilized as a suitable alternative for fossil fuels considering of the following advantages:

• Bioethanol addition to diesel fuel can significantly reduce fuel blend cetane number.

• Bioethanol and methyl ester (sunflower) can improve low temperature flow properties
due to very low freezing point of bioethanol and low pour point of methyl ester,
consequently diesterol is more suitable for cold climate compared with diesel fuel.

• Adding only 3% bioethanol to diesel and methyl ester reduces the flash point of the
fuel blend very much lower than ASTM standard limits which cause a problem in storage
and transportation of diesterol.

• Sulfur content of diesterol was low when oxygenated compounds are high.

• The CO and HC emission concentration of diesterol is low compared to the

conventional diesel fuel and even diesel–biodiesel blends.
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