Neat vegeTable- oils pose some problems when subjected to prolonged usage in CI engine. The increasing industrialization and motorization of the world has led to a steep rise for the demand of petroleum based fuels. Petroleum based fuels are obtained from limited serves. These problems are reduced to minimum by subjecting the vegeTable- oils to the process of transesterification called Jatropha biodiesel. The important properties of Jatropha biodiesel thus developed are evaluated and compared in relation to that of conventional diesel oil. This paper touches upon well-to wheel greenhouse gas emissions, well-to-wheel efficiencies, fuel versatility, infrastructure, availability, economics, engine performance and emissions, effect on wear, lubricating oil etc. Diesel, Jatropha oil and Jatropha biodiesel are used as fuels in the CI engine and the performance and emission characteristics of the engine are analyzed. The data generated for various concentrations of biodiesel blends were compared with baseline data generated for neat diesel oil. Tests were carried out over entire range of engine operation at varying condition of speed and load. It was found that 20 % blend of biodiesel gave the best performance amongst all blends. The experimental results proved that the use of biodiesel in compression ignition engines is alternative to diesel.

KEYWORDS:Biodiesel, Esterification, Diesel, Jatropha, Petroleum, Performance and emissions.