STUDY OF KINEMATIC VISCOSITY, VOLATILITY AND IGNITION QUALITY PROPERTIES OF BUTANOL/DIESEL BLENDS

ABSTRACT The alternative use of butanol in blends with diesel has attracted the attention of many researchers worldwide for its possibility to overcome some barriers observed for other lower chain alcohols. Viscosity, volatility and ignition quality are critical characteristics of a fuel intended for use in compression ignition engines. In this paper, the kinematic viscosity, atmospheric distillation and cetane number of butanol/diesel blends in proportions of up to 30 mass% were determined and compared with Brazilian diesel specifications. Two types of diesel matrices 10 ppm (S10) and 500 ppm (S500) sulfur and two butanol isomers (n- and iso-butanol) were tested. Results showed that both kinematic viscosity and cetane number were reduced with the increase of the butanol content in blends. Butanol provided an intense increase of the blend volatility, resulting in pronounced effects on the distillation curve shape, in relation to that observed for pure diesel.