Bio-diesel as a fuel in I.C. engines - A review

rapidly increasing consumption of fossil fuel and petroleum products has been a matter of concern for the many countries which imports more crude oil. Because it causes huge foreign exchange out-go on the one hand and increasing exhaust emission on the other. Therefore it is necessary for the development of renewable energy sources. Vegetable oils have become more attractive recently because of their environmental benefits and it is made from renewable resources. Bio-diesel commands crucial advantages such as technical feasibility of blending in any ratio with petroleum diesel fuel, use of existing storage facility and infrastructure, superiority from the environment and emission reduction angle, its capacity to provide energy security to remote and rural areas and employment generation. There are more than 350oil bearing crops identified, among which only sun flower, sunflower, soybean, cottonseed, rapeseed, Jatropha curcas and peanut oils are considered as potential alternative fuels for Diesel engines. So a particular crop which is available in surplus within the country should be used to produce Bio-diesel. This paper reviews the extraction and properties of Bio-diesel, also the outcomes of the research work done in different countries. Also efforts has been made to includes the Bio-diesel scenario in India.