PRODUCTION CHARACTERIZATION AND TESTING OF SOYBEAN BIODIESEL IN A DIESEL CYCLE ENGINE

The characteristics of the biodiesel produced by the transesterification reaction of soybean oil with anhydrous ethanol, catalyzed by sodium hydroxide and its thermo-oxidative stability, were investigated by thermal analysis and viscosity. It was analyzed density at 20 °C, sulfur content, cetane number, carbon residue, iodine index, acidity, sulphated ash, the total content of glycerin and unreacted fatty acids. The synthesis of biodiesel via ethanolic processed in a Pyrex glass reactor with 2/1 molar ratio triglyceride/anhy-drous ethanol and 1% of catalyst, 60 °C. After the reaction, the phases were separated and glycerin was removed. The biodiesel was washed with 0.1M HCl solution, at ~ 70 oC for neutralization. The physicochemical analysis, all parameters for biodiesel met the requirements of the ANP Technical Standards. From the produced biodiesel, binary mixtures were made with diesel in the proportions of 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30%. The objective was to study the behavior of mixtures in a diesel cycle engine coupled to a dynamometer of Eddy Current. In this study of burning biodiesel blends in diesel engine were analyzed and compared with pure diesel parameters: consumption, efficiency, performance, torque and power. The results showed that the mixtures had very similar properties and performance to pure diesel by mixing 20%.  To the mixture with 30% there has been a significant drop in torque and power and slight increase in consumption. Thus, it was shown that soybean oil biodiesel, mixtures of 2% to 30%, is applicable as an alternative fuel aptly, for the diesel cycle engines, because it is a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel.