LAUSR

ABSTRACT Production of biodiesel from the chemically extracted oil of Jatropha curcas was investigated. Jatropha oil biodiesel was blended with pure diesel and the rheological properties were studied. The viscoelastic properties studied included viscosity, stress and strain, and torque and density measurements with the variation in temperature from room temperature to 90°C. Significant differences were revealed between the viscoelastic properties of biodiesel and that of pure diesel. Additionally, an empirical relationship between the dependence of viscosity and density on temperature and fraction of biodiesel was also studied. Sound velocity was measured with variation in temperature. Regression analysis explained the dependency of sound velocity on temperature. J20 and pure diesel had the same approximate values making it convenient to use as an alternative to pure diesel.