Characterization of palm oil-based biodiesel, hydrotreated vegetable oil, and fatty acid methyl esters as alternative renewable fuels to replace petrodiesel in diesel engines

Indonesia has been focusing on the development and utilization of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as a substitute fuel to increase the use of renewable energy sources and lessen reliance on fossil fuels. This study maps the characteristics of biodiesel fuels, including FAME, HVO, and the mixed-fuel combination, before the fuel is used in performance tests on diesel engines. The study tested nine fuel samples in a laboratory and then compared their quality with the reference standard for each fuel type. The result shows that HVO fuel has a high cetane number, indicating easy ignitability and quick burning, facilitating efficient combustion in diesel engines, while the mixture of biodiesel and HVO contains phosphorus and alkali metals. The high acidity level in FAME biodiesel B100 has the potential to cause corrosion in the fuel system and engine components, such as injectors, fuel pumps, and valves. FAME biodiesel has higher glyceride content, which can disrupt engine performance and cause fuel injector blockages. In summary, the study indicates that it's important to look at different factors when assessing biodiesel fuels, such as cetane number, total acid number, and glyceride content, to reduce any possible negative risks.