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| Production and Characterization of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters from Palm Oil |
Adekanmi, Abideen Adeyinka and Ayoade, Julius Oluwatosin
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Abstract:
Diesel production through biological source is better alternative to conventional diesel as they are environmentally friendly, renewable, non toxic, sustainable, cheap, and cleaner fuel options amongst available biofuels. This study is aimed at trans-esterified Palm oil to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester and characterization of the diesel produced. Trans esterification of palm oil to biodiesel was performed using Sulphuric acid as a catalyst. The biodiesel was analyzed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopic (GC-MS). Physicochemical properties of biodiesel were determined using predictive models based on fatty acid composition and American Society for Testing for Materials (ASTM) protocols. Data obtained were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. The fatty acid content of biodiesel had 45.80% saturated, 35.90% monounsaturated and 18300% polyunsaturated fatty acids. The physicochemical properties of the methyl ester produced were : Colour (Colorless), specific gravity (0.861), kinematic viscosity(1.99 mm2/s at 40oC), flash point (133oC), cloud point (-5oC), pour point (-5oC), refractive index (1.41), heat of combustion (36.50MJ/kg), density (0.8610 g/cm3), ash content (0.01%) , acid value (0.38mgKOH/g), saponification value (221 mgKOH/g), peroxide value (1.9 meq/kg), iodine value (46. 81mgI2/g), free fatty acid (1.24 %), cetane number (73), oxidative stability (6.80 hrs), long chain saturated factor (24.2 oC), cold-filter plugging point (69.30oC), degree of unsaturation (64.52), high heating value (41.25oC) and water content (0.04). Palm oil biodiesel was discovered to be a good starting material for biodiesel production while results characterization conducted shows conformity with standard as required by regulatory authority
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