Experimental investigation of evaporation rate and exhaust emissions of diesel engine fuelled with cotton seed methyl ester and its blend with petro-diesel

•Fundamental characteristics of non-edible biodiesel are investigated.•Thermo-physical properties and evaporation characteristics are determined.•Cotton seed biodiesel, diesel and the blends of Cotton seed biodiesel with diesel are studied in engine scenario.•B25, a blend of 25% cotton seed biodiesel and 75% diesel by volume is found to be giving optimum performance.