Individual and Simultaneous Isobutanol + Nitromethane and 2-Ethylhexanitrate Influences on Diesel Fuel Property Indexes

This study investigated the influences of n-pentanol, n-butanol, and isobutanol on the calculated cetane index (CCI), density, boiling point of mid-boiling point (T50), flash point and pour point followed by studying individual effects of isobutanol, isobutanol + nitromethane, and 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (EHN). The simultaneous effects of isobutanol + nitromethane + EHN addition on the properties of the diesel fuel were studied, too. The results showed that the addition of isobutanol would tend to better properties of blended diesel fuel (BDF). Increasing nitromethane concentration in the fuel could enhance CCI, flash point, and viscosity for 3.29 %, 11.29 %, 2.56 % whereas no significant effects on the density and pour point were observed. Low EHN’s concentration firstly increased the CCI and volatility whereas further increase would lead to a reduction in a manner that the BDF with 0.02 vol. % of EHN exhibited 2.57 % and 3.59 % increases for CCI and boiling points, respectively. The addition of EHN to the diesel would tend to a decrement in pour point and viscosity as well as an increase in the flash point and density. Accordingly, the BDF comprised of 2 vol. % of isobutanol (80 vol. %) + nitromethane (20 vol. %) and 0.02 vol. % of EHN was found to be the optimum composition of final BDF. The addition of isobutanol + nitromethane + EHN (INE) led to increase CCI and significant decline volatility, flash and pour points, density, and viscosity of the diesel fuel, significantly.