Investigation of the Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine with Different Diesel–Methanol Dual-Fuel Ratios

In this paper, the effects of different diesel–methanol blends on the combustion and emission characteristics of diesel engines are investigated in terms of cylinder pressure, heat release rate, cylinder temperature, brake specific fuel consumption, thermal brake efficiency, brake power, and soot, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide emissions in a four-stroke diesel engine. The corresponding three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was established using the Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen List (AVL)-Fire coupled Chemkin program, and the chemical kinetic mechanism, including 135 reactions and 77 species, was established. The simulation model was verified by the experiment at 50% and 100% loads, and the combustion processes of pure diesel (D100) and diesel–methanol (D90M10, D80M20, and D70M30) were investigated, respectively. The results showed that the increase in methanol content in the blended fuel significantly improved the emission and power characteristics of the diesel engine. More specifically, at full load, the cylinder pressures increased by 0.78%, 1.21%, and 1.41% when the proportions of methanol in the blended fuel were 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively. In addition, the power decreased by 2.76%, 5.04%, and 8.08%, respectively. When the proportion of methanol in the blended fuel was 10%, 20%, and 30%, the soot emissions were decreased by 16.45%, 29.35%, and 43.05%, respectively. Therefore, methanol content in blended fuel improves the combustion and emission characteristics of the engine.

A Comparative Study of Alcohol Estimation in Different Samples of Draksharishta

Background: Among all Arishta, Draksharishta is manufactured and sold on large amount by various pharmaceutical companies and widely prescribed by the physicians. Due to its effective properties and pleasant test resembling to that of Alcohol, Draksharishta is used by the patients in over dose for longer duration irrespective of the physician’s prescription. Hence, to estimate and compare the level of alcohol and to detect the absence/presence of Methanol content in self-prepared and market samples of Draksharishta, this study was undertaken by comparing the permissible limits of alcohol in all the samples so as to inhibit alcohol intoxication due to Draksharishta. Draksharishta was prepared by two methods. Methodology: In method 1, Dhataki (Woodfordia floribunda) flowers and in method 2, Yeast was used for inducing fermentation. Analytical study of two self prepared and five market samples of Draksharishta was conducted to estimate the level of alcohol, reducing sugar, non reducing sugar and to detect the absence/presence of Methanol content. The detected values of the parameters were compared among all the samples. Results: The data reveal that there is difference in the physicochemical values of the Draksharishta samples. The alcohol content in samples M-E (2.8 %), S-A (3.40 %) and S-B (3.80 %) is low as compared to other sample of Draksharishta. Alcohol content in self prepared and market samples of Draksharishta is within permissible limits. Methanol is absent in all the sample of Draksharishta. Draksharishta prepared according to reference (S-A and S-B), satisfy the standard parameters of Arishta kalpana. Conclusion: Draksharishta sample S-A and S-B can be easily used in all age groups even in higher dose. As alcohol contents is less and methanol is absent in self-prepared samples, they are safe to use.

Investigating the Factors Having the Important Role in the Standardization of Herbal Distillates’ Methanol Content

Blurred vision leading to nervous blindness is the only symptom of chronic methanol intoxication that occurs following prolonged drinking some kinds of herbal distillates and has been motivated serious anxieties. The methanol content of these products is not usually measured which may be due to the lack of applicable standards in this regard. In this study, the methanol concentrations of some kinds of herbal distillates were quantified by two different methods to define the most effective factors in the determination of methanol permitted dose of these products. In this study, the methanol contents of 60 different samples were examined by a newly designed kit and Gas Chromatography methods, and finally, based on gained results some recommendations were presented about how standardization of herbal distillates’ methanol content. All samples have different concentrations of methanol that in some cases, their methanol content seems enough for the creation of chronic methanol intoxication. Also, access to an appropriate and efficient national standard for controlling of methanol content of herbal distillates seems to be necessary.

Methanol Mitigation during Manufacturing of Fruit Spirits with Special Consideration of Novel Coffee Cherry Spirits

Methanol is a natural ingredient with major occurrence in fruit spirits, such as apple, pear, plum or cherry spirits, but also in spirits made from coffee pulp. The compound is formed during fermentation and the following mash storage by enzymatic hydrolysis of naturally present pectins. Methanol is toxic above certain threshold levels and legal limits have been set in most jurisdictions. Therefore, the methanol content needs to be mitigated and its level must be controlled. This article will review the several factors that influence the methanol content including the pH value of the mash, the addition of various yeast and enzyme preparations, fermentation temperature, mash storage, and most importantly the raw material quality and hygiene. From all these mitigation possibilities, lowering the pH value and the use of cultured yeasts when mashing fruit substances is already common as best practice today. Also a controlled yeast fermentation at acidic pH facilitates not only reduced methanol formation, but ultimately also leads to quality benefits of the distillate. Special care has to be observed in the case of spirits made from coffee by-products which are prone to spoilage with very high methanol contents reported in past studies.

Methanol Mitigation During Manufacturing of Fruit Spirits With Special Consideration of Novel Coffee Cherry Spirits

Methanol is a natural ingredient with major occurrence in fruit spirits, such as apple, pear, plum or cherry spirits, but also in spirits made from coffee pulp. The compound is formed during fermentation and the following mash storage by enzymatic hydrolysis of naturally present pectins. Methanol is toxic above certain threshold levels and legal limits have been set in most jurisdictions. Therefore, the methanol content needs to be mitigated and its level must be controlled. This article will review the several factors that influence the methanol content including the pH value of the mash, the addition of various yeast and enzyme preparations, fermentation temperature, mash storage, and most importantly the raw material quality and hygiene. From all these mitigation possibilities, lowering the pH value and the use of cultured yeasts when mashing fruit substances is already common as best practice today. Also a controlled yeast fermentation at acidic pH facilitates not only reduced methanol formation, but ultimately also leads to quality benefits of the distillate. Special care has to be observed in the case of spirits made from coffee by-products which are prone to spoilage with very high methanol contents reported in past studies.

Optimization of pretreatment in pymetrozine production wastewater via reactive distillation and side-stream distillation methods with response surface methodology

Lots of highly concentrated saline organic wastewater is produced during pymetrozine production process, causing environmental pollution and waste of resources if discharged directly. Research on actual pymetrozine wastewater treatment is quite scarce. Existing treatment methods of pesticide wastewater usually have disadvantages of long treatment time, low processing efficiency and low recovery rate. To solve these problems, pretreatment process of pymetrozine wastewater was studied based on material recovery and pollutant degradation. The ammonia conversion process was experimentally investigated by reactive distillation. The reaction product vapor was neutralized and then separated by side-stream distillation. Aspen Plus and response surface methodology were employed to simulate and optimize the operating conditions. Box-behnken design was used to investigate the individual and interaction effects on methanol purification and sodium acetate removal. Experimental study was carried out on the basis of theoretical simulation data. The result showed that the optimized methanol content on tower top was 99.28% with yield of 99.95% and methanol content of side withdrawal was 0.01%. The process can be applied for pesticide wastewater treatment to recycle high purity chemical materials, and meet the national sewage comprehensive emission standard.

Ethanol and Methanol Levels in The Oplosan Liquor

Oplosan liquor is one form of illegal drink that is often found in police raids in various areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the ethanol and methanol levels in mixed liquor obtained from the results of the Sector Police raids in Cipayung District, East Jakarta, in 2017. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Determination of ethanol and methanol levels is done by gas chromatography at the Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta Health Laboratory. The sample in this study amounted to 14 samples. Based on the research obtained Ethanol content from test material (10.08-50.14)% v/v with an average (28,39±15,09)% v/v and methanol content is (0.08-2.04)% v / v with an average of (0,81±0,72)%v/v. Samples whose ethanol content is equivalent to alcoholic groups A, B, and C are 0%, six bottles (42.86%), and eight bottles (51.13%). All samples contained methanol with levels> 0.01% and were not packaged according to the requirements of the Regulation of the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency No. 14/2016 (BPOM). It is suggested to do a follow-up in counseling related to mixed alcohol, especially for adolescents in this area. Further research is suggested to identify illegal drugs in the confiscated alcoholic drinks from this area. It is recommended to the Cipayung District Police to clean the area from mixed alcohol.

Simultaneous determination of acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol, iso butanol, and iso almyacol concentrations in white alcol in some areas in Hai Duong province in 2018 - 2019

The research has developed a method for simultaneous determination of acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol, isobutyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol in white alcohol. Validation results show that the method has satisfactory accuracy with recovery in the range of 105 - 108%, repeatability RSD < 1.57%, detection limit below 3 mg/L for all compounds. Proficiency test results in 2020 were satisfactory with Z-scores of all substances below 2. The method has been applied to analyze 200 distilled alcohol samples and 50 blended alcohol samples taken in Hai Duong city during the period from 2018 to 2020. Three of 200 distilled alcohol samples have the methanol content higher than the maximum limit. The relationship between methanol content in proportion to content of acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, isobutyl alcohol, and isoamyl alcohol in the same sample has been evaluated to distinguish between blended alcohol and distilled alcohol.