AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Development and Implementation of Low Level Biodiesel Blend Formulations to Help the Air Quality Standards in California Related to Diesel Fuel
MARYAM HAJBABAEI, Georgios Karavalakis, Kent C. Johnson, Alexander Mitchell, Jim Guthrie, David R. Cocker III, Thomas D. Durbin, University of California, Riverside
Abstract Number: 536 Working Group: Urban Aerosols
Abstract The reduction of emissions from diesel engines has been one of the primary elements in obtaining air quality and greenhouse gas reduction goals within California and throughout the nation. This will predominantly be achieved by introducing more renewable fuels to partially replace conventional fuels. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel with the potential for diesel fuel applications. However, there is a tendency for biodiesel to increase nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions which remains an important issue with respect to implementing biodiesel especially within California. California Air Resources Board (CARB) in collaboration with University of California, Riverside and Davis conducted an extensive study on the emissions impacts of biodiesel use. This earlier work showed that biodiesel would likely increase NOx emissions when used in California-certified diesel fuel at levels above 20%. However, the results of this study did not show clear trends for biodiesels at 5% levels.
The goal of this study is to evaluate the possibility of using different feedstock 5% biodiesel blends as potential alternative diesel fuel formulations for use in California. Preliminary study was performed to find the suitable candidate fuels for the full certification testing. For this purpose, emissions from 5% blends of animal-based, waste-vegetable oil, and soy-based with CARB reference fuel were studied. All blends passed particulate matter (PM), total hydrocarbons (THC), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions criteria of the certification testing protocol. However, only 5% animal-based biodiesel was successful in mitigating NOx emissions increase with biodiesel. For the second phase of the study, the full certification testing was performed on two of the candidate fuels using CARB protocols. The two B5 blends included animal-based and waste vegetable oil biodiesel with a CARB reference fuel. For both phases of the study, PM, NOx, THC, CO, CO2, and soluble organic fraction (SOF) emissions were evaluated. The results of this study provide the initial framework for the development of certified alternative diesel formulations for biodiesel blends that can be implemented into the California diesel fuel market