Influence of Blending Advanced Biofuel Mixtures with Diesel on Emissions from a Compression Ignition Engine

Compression ignition engines are likely to be reliant on liquid fuels in the short term. Reducing their carbon footprint could benefit from blending fossil fuels with lower carbon alternatives such as advanced biofuels. Blends of alkyl levulinate, dialkyl ether, and alcohol can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass using acid catalysed alcoholysis. Ethyl and butyl-based blends, derived from ethanol and n-butanol, respectively, were investigated in this study using a single-cylinder generating set engine. Particulate emissions reduced significantly upon addition of the biofuel, but CO and total hydrocarbon specific emissions increased relative to diesel for all blends, resulting in non-compliance with the Euro Stage V emissions standard. Optimisation of the engine or utilisation of after-treatment systems would be beneficial to meeting standards with such advanced biofuel blends.