Diesel engine powered by mustard oil, surrounded by mustard fields.

Mustard Oil Methyl Ester: Is This Fuel the Future of Diesel Engines?

Reese Marlowe in Climate & Environment December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring mustard oil methyl ester as a sustainable alternative fuel source for diesel engines."

The world's reliance on fossil fuels is becoming increasingly unsustainable. The rising costs and dwindling supplies of these fuels, combined with growing environmental concerns, demand urgent action. As a result, scientists and engineers are actively exploring alternative fuel sources that can power our vehicles and machinery without harming the planet.

Among these promising alternatives is biodiesel, a fuel derived from renewable sources like vegetable oils, animal fats, and even recycled cooking grease. Biodiesel offers several advantages over traditional diesel, including reduced emissions and improved energy security. However, biodiesel production and use also present challenges, such as lower engine efficiency and potential engine compatibility issues.

One particular type of biodiesel that has garnered significant attention is mustard oil methyl ester (MOME). MOME is produced through a process called transesterification, which converts mustard oil into a fuel that can be used in diesel engines. Research suggests that MOME can improve engine performance and reduce emissions, but further investigation is needed to fully understand its potential.

What Are the Performance Benefits of Mustard Oil Methyl Ester?

Diesel engine powered by mustard oil, surrounded by mustard fields.

A study published in the "Indian Journal of Science and Technology" explored the performance of mustard oil methyl ester (MOME) in compression ignition (CI) engines. The researchers compared MOME to traditional diesel fuel under various conditions to assess its potential as an alternative fuel. Their analysis focused on key performance indicators, including thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, exhaust gas temperature, and pressure-crank angle dynamics.

The results of the study indicated that advancing fuel injection timing could significantly enhance the performance of CI engines using MOME. Specifically, the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) increased by 4.85% when the fuel injection was advanced by 6° bTDC (before Top Dead Center). This improvement surpassed the 3.63% increase observed with traditional diesel under the same conditions. Additionally, the brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) decreased by 3.19% for MOME, while diesel only saw a 12.86% reduction.

Increased Brake Thermal Efficiency: Advancing fuel injection by 6° bTDC led to a 4.85% increase in brake thermal efficiency when using mustard oil methyl ester.
Reduced Fuel Consumption: Brake-specific fuel consumption was reduced by 3.19% for MOME.
Lower Exhaust Gas Temperature: Advancing fuel injection decreased exhaust gas temperature by 8.63% for mustard oil methyl ester.
Increased Peak Pressure: Advancing fuel injection resulted in an 8.32% increase in peak pressure for mustard oil.

These findings suggest that MOME has the potential to be a viable alternative fuel for diesel engines, offering improved performance and reduced fuel consumption when the fuel injection timing is optimized. The study highlights the importance of further research and development to fully harness the benefits of MOME and other biofuels.

Is Mustard Oil the Answer to Sustainable Energy?

The exploration of mustard oil methyl ester as a potential alternative fuel represents a significant step towards sustainable energy. The experimental findings confirm that by optimizing fuel injection timing, the performance aspects of CI engines can be considerably enhanced. This opens new avenues for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental impacts. As research and technology advance, biofuels like MOME could play a pivotal role in powering a greener future.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.17485/ijst/2016/v9i37/101982, Alternate LINK

Title: Performance Analysis On Mustard Oil Methyl Ester As A Potential Alternative Fuel

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Publisher: Indian Society for Education and Environment

Authors: D. Yuvarajan, M. Venkata Ramanan, D. Christopher Selvam

Published: 2016-10-12

Everything You Need To Know

What is mustard oil methyl ester (MOME), and how is it produced?

Mustard oil methyl ester (MOME) is a type of biodiesel. It's derived from mustard oil and produced through a process called transesterification. This process converts the mustard oil into a fuel suitable for use in diesel engines. This conversion is essential because it modifies the oil to have properties similar to traditional diesel, allowing it to be used in existing engines with minimal modifications.

What are the main advantages of using mustard oil methyl ester (MOME) in diesel engines compared to traditional diesel?

The primary advantages of using mustard oil methyl ester (MOME) include improved engine performance and reduced emissions. Research indicates that MOME can enhance brake thermal efficiency (BTE), reduce fuel consumption (brake-specific fuel consumption or BSFC), and lower exhaust gas temperatures. Optimizing the fuel injection timing, such as advancing it by 6° bTDC, further enhances these benefits. These improvements make MOME a promising alternative to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

How does advancing fuel injection timing affect the performance of an engine using mustard oil methyl ester (MOME)?

Advancing fuel injection timing has several positive effects when using mustard oil methyl ester (MOME). According to research, advancing the fuel injection by 6° bTDC (before Top Dead Center) led to a 4.85% increase in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) compared to traditional diesel. Moreover, this adjustment reduced brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by 3.19% and lowered the exhaust gas temperature by 8.63%. Additionally, it increased peak pressure by 8.32% . These improvements collectively demonstrate the potential of MOME when the engine is correctly optimized.

What specific performance indicators were measured to assess the effectiveness of mustard oil methyl ester (MOME) in diesel engines?

The study focused on key performance indicators to evaluate mustard oil methyl ester (MOME). These included brake thermal efficiency (BTE), which reflects how efficiently the engine converts fuel energy into useful work; brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), indicating the amount of fuel needed to produce a specific amount of power; exhaust gas temperature, a measure of combustion heat, and pressure-crank angle dynamics, which provides insights into the combustion process within the engine. These indicators collectively provided a comprehensive picture of MOME's performance compared to traditional diesel.

What are the long-term implications of using mustard oil methyl ester (MOME) as a sustainable alternative fuel?

The adoption of mustard oil methyl ester (MOME) and other biofuels has significant implications for the future of sustainable energy. By reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, MOME can help mitigate environmental impacts and enhance energy security. The research highlights that optimizing engine parameters, such as fuel injection timing, is crucial to maximizing the benefits of MOME. As technology advances and more research is conducted, biofuels like MOME could play a pivotal role in powering a greener future and promoting a more sustainable approach to energy consumption.