One of the major challenging problems faced globally is energy security, and new generation researchers’ emphasis is on alternative fuels, which could switch the fossil fuels products entirely or moderately. The current study focuses on the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel for internal combustion engines. The speciality of this fuel is the oxygenated short-chain alcohols. These alcohols may be made through the fermentation of biomass, hence this fuel comes under a renewable source of energy. A four-stroke, single-cylinder, water-cooled and naturally aspirated compression ignition diesel engine was selected for this research. The above engine tested fuels like diesel, blends of diesel and ethanol. Diesel (D 100) (v/v), ethanol 5% with the addition of diesel 95% (E 5) (v/v), ethanol 10% with the addition of diesel 90% (E10) (v/v), ethanol 15% with the addition of diesel 85% (E 15) (v/v) and ethanol 20% with the addition of diesel 80% (E20) (v/v). The influence of the upturn of ethanol in the diesel delivered a decline of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt hydrocarbons (UHC) matched to diesel fuel. It concluded that in these test fuels, E15 has higher brake thermal efficiency; E20 has higher brake specific fuel consumption. For emissions, E20 is the best blend compared to the remaining test fuels.

This study focuses on the conversion of chicken fat into chicken fat methyl ester (CFME) and its use in the diesel engine. Baseline fuel i.e., diesel and chicken fat biodiesel are the fuels tested to study their effect on the performance and emission characteristics of diesel engines. To enhance the performance and emission characteristics, ethanol up to 20% is added as an additive to the chicken fat biodiesel. The physiochemical properties revealed that the fuel blends properties are closer to the diesel fuel. The experimental investigations revealed that additive blended biodiesel enhanced the performance by reducing the brake-specific fuel consumption and increasing the brake thermal efficiency. Moreover, the emissions are considerably reduced by the additive blended chicken fat biodiesel. Therefore, chicken fat biodiesel can be considered as a substitute fuel to be used in the diesel engine without any modifications.

In this research work, the characterization of the palm stearin biodiesel was made using Nuclear Magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR) and GC/MS methods. Analysis of the composition of fatty acids was done using the GCMS apparatus based on the retention time. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was used for the spectrum analysis of the various functional groups and bands located in it. The properties of the palm stearin biodiesel were predicted adopting the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Measured values of the properties were the density at 18°C as 0.88 g/m3, kinematic viscosity at 35°C as 3.4 mm2/s, the calorific value of the palm stearin as 37121 kJ/kg and the flash and fire points of the biodiesel as 130°C and 160oC respectively. The rapid and correct characterization of the palm stearin biodiesel was made by the NMR.