Feasibility study of employing diverse antioxidants as an additive in research diesel engine running with diesel-biodiesel blends

This study examines the prospect of utilizing biodiesel from non-edible, waste seed derived from grapefruit. The prepared biodiesel was intended to replace the diesel fuel in a research diesel engine. Two antioxidants namely BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) are partially blended to enhance the ignition patterns of diesel/biodiesel blends. 30% volume of grape-seed biodiesel (BD) is blended with 70% volume of diesel and identified as base fuel. 10% volume of two antioxidants is equally blended to base fuel to enhance its physic-chemical properties. Upon blending the antioxidants, no change in phase was observed for base fuel. Performance results found that BHA and BHT addition lowered 1.2–1.4% of BSFC, and improved 0.7–1.1% of BTE of diesel/biodiesel blends respectively. Besides, BHA and BHT inclusion improved the physio-chemical properties of diesel/biodiesel blends and produced a prominent increase in In-Cylinder Pressure (ICP) and heat release rate (HRR). Emissions results revealed that BHA and BHT addition lowered 1.8–2.1%% of CO, 2.2–2.6% of HC of diesel/biodiesel blends. Further, a higher cetane number of BHA and BHT improved the combustion and lowered smoke (2.9–3.4%) and NO (1.9–3.7%) emission for diesel/biodiesel blends.