Characterization of the Oils of some Non-Edible Seeds as Biodiesel

O.O. Osadolor, O.O. Clifford
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria,
Nigeria

Keywords: biodiesel, emission, non-edible oil, transesterification

Summary:

The oils of the seeds of Azadirachta indica(Neem), Mangnifera indica(Mango), Thevetia peruviana, Jatropha curcas and Hervia Brasilensis(Rubber) were extracted and transesterified via base-catalyzed with methanol. The resulting biodiesel and their respective blends were characterized. The oil and biodiesel yields were; Neem, 97%, Mango, 90%, Thevetia 98%, Jatropha, 95% and Rubber, 92%. The experiments show that Neem oil biodiesel (NOB) had highest Cetane number of 66 at 20% blend, among the biodiesel, ROB 65 at 100% blend, JOB 60 at 10% blend, MOB 60% at 100% blend, TOB 60 at 100% blend, while petrol diesel had 50 at 100% blend and it’s the lowest. For flash point determination according ASTM D6751, JOB had the highest flash point of 200oC at 10% blend, while the petrol diesel PED had the lowest 120oC and considering ASTM D93 for flash point, JOB with the highest flash which is a better option compared with petrol diesel. Thus the investigation shows that biodiesel and its blends can be a good alternative energy source to petroleum diesel, technically and environmentally.