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EVALUATION OF LIQUID BIOFUELS, JATROPHA OIL, AND ITS BLENDS WITH KEROSENE AS ALTERNATIVE FUEL FOR LIGHTING AND COOKING

Many economies in the world depend on non-renewable fossil fuels for their energy supply, whose economic benefit is in question. Kenya currently depends on imported petroleum to meet 75% of her commercial energy. The prices of the product are regulated by the market forces which is beyond the control of the country. Kerosene for instance is still being advocated as an alternative fuel for cooking, and as cheaper lighting source in lamps in slum areas and where electricity is not provided especially in urban towns. Further, the continual use of kerosene exacerbates both the environmental and human health through the emission of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming hence the need for an alternative cheap clean renewable source. This was achieved by determining the oil yield from Jatropha Curcas seeds from Tana River, Lamu county, preparing Kerosene Jatropha blends, evaluating the physiochemical properties of the blends, evaluating the burning and lighting performance of the best blends while testing for the emissions. The physiochemical and thermal properties were determined using standard methods as per the Institute of Petroleum’s standards for petroleum and its products, this included kinematic viscosity, specific gravity, acid value, flash point, calorific value. The water boiling test was also performed and from this test the amount the energy output of the fuel blends was determined. While the water boiling test was ongoing the amount of emissions from the fuel being used was also determined, these emissions were the particulate matter (P.M2.5) and the amount of carbon monoxide. Jatrophas Carcus oil was extracted from its seeds, it was blended with kerosene which was bought at an identified petrol station, the blends were made at different ratios and the best blends were found to be Blend 5, Blend 10 and Blend 20. A one wick kerosene lamp was used to determine the lighting effectiveness of the fuel blends, while a normal wick stove found in Kenya was used to perform the water boiling test. There was a significance difference among all the three oil blend samples tested and the results obtained emphasized the use of optimum oil blends on normal stoves and the importance of using the stoves in well ventilated areas to decrease the amount of exposure from emissions.

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Author: bevin nabai kundu
Contributed by: reagan lax
Institution: university of nairobi
Level: university
Sublevel: post-graduate
Type: dissertations