Fuel properties and exhaust emissions of low blending rate soybean oil methyl esters blended with diesel fuel

The main properties and engine emissions of low blending rate soybean oil methyl ester blended with diesel from 5 to 30 wt% were compared and analyzed. The experimental results show that, compared with diesel fuel, with an increase in the soybean oil methyl ester percentage in the blends, distillation temperature at 50%, flash point, kinematic viscosity, specific gravity, gelatine content, carbon residue, acidity and ash increase while a cold filter plugging point, solidifying point and copper corrosion keep constant, sulfur content decreases, smoke density and HC decrease while NO_x emission increase, CO increases at 2,200 r/min but decreases at 3,400 r/min.