Climate change has been the most discussed topic for the past decade. The world is feeling the effects of global warming and research has shown that the burning of fossil fuel is one of the leading causes. Fossil fuel must be replaced with a clean and sustainable energy source. A novel new research has found an interesting alternative in lemon peel oils.
Imagine that lemon peels, a produce that is often regarded as food wastes, has the potential to power everyday vehicles. Researcher has successfully extracted oils from lemon peels which has the potential to be an environmentally friendly substitute for diesel fuel.
Lemon Peel
The scientists injected the biofuel into a diesel engine and studied its effects. The engine increased in performance and emitted significantly lower emission levels. One of the measurements made was NOx emission levels as NOx (Nitrious Oxide) is one of the biggest contributors to global warming.
The biofuel was a mixture of lemon peel oil and diesel fuel, but the increases in proportion of lemon oil corresponded to better performance and less emission. Dr. Ashok, the lead researcher, wrote” it is concluded that 50% lemon peel oil could be readily used in diesel engine with comparable performances and improved emission characteristics”. This study was published in the journal Energy Conversion and Management.
The researchers extracted the lemon peel oil with steam distillation. They tested different proportions of lemon peel oil and diesel fuel mixtures in a fully functional diesel engine. The lemon oil’s natural low viscosity and low boiling point allowed it to function in a normal engine.
Lemon and other Citrus Wastes
The research into lemon peel oil and other biofuels can tackle multiple world issues such as the food waste crisis. Examples such as the lemon peel oil biofuel can be produced and implemented cheaply due to its abundancy as food wastes. Dr. Ashok and the team of researcher stated “Overall diesel engine characteristics indicated that lemon peel oil can partially or completely replace the petroleum diesel usage”.
Written by: Harvey Wu
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