ARTICLE IN PRESS

SEDIMENT FORMATION IN A PALM OIL BIODIESEL BLEND IN A SHIP FUEL TANK

JAJANG AMIR HIDAYAT1; BAMBANG SUGIARTO1*; YULIANTO SULISTYO NUGROHO1; AHMAD SYIHAN AUZANI1; HARI SETIAPRAJA2 and SITI YUBAIDAH2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2024.0001
Received: 12 April 2023   Accepted: 31 October 2023   Published Online: 2 January 2024
ABSTRACT

In this study, sediment formation in a ship fuel tank fuelled with a blend of 30% palm biodiesel (B30) was evaluated. The main objective was to understand sediment formation during fuel storage over different storage periods, which has not been previously reported. In this study, B30 was evaluated for cleanliness, water content, contaminants, and other properties before it was stored in a ship fuel tank for 30 days. Regular sampling was conducted every two days during this storage period to monitor and analyse sediment formation. After a storage period of 30 days, B30 exhibited density comparable to its initial condition, with a difference of less than 0.1%. However, its viscosity showed an increase of 1.2%. In contrast, no significant difference was observed in fuel cleanliness based on ISO 4406 and in the measured water content. The amount of sediment formed was consistent up to the 19th day, but from the 20th to the 30th day, it rapidly increased logarithmically, with a 312% mass increase by the 30th day. Additionally, morphological and FTIR analyses showed that the sediment consisted of agglomerated asphaltene and saturated fatty acids. This study reveals that quality control and specific treatments are required in B30 to suppress the formation of sediments.

KEYWORDS:


1 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
Universitas Indonesia,
Depok 16424,Indonesia.

2 Research Centre for Conversion and Conservation Energy,
National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN) Serpong,
South Tangerang Banten 15314, Indonesia.

* Corresponding author e-mail: bangsugi@eng.ui.ac.id