|
|
| |
| Extraction, Production and Characterizations of Diesel Produced From Palm Kernel Seeds |
Adekanmi, Abideen Adeyinka and Ayoade, Julius Oluwatosin
|
Abstract:
Due to growth of economy at 8% to 12% GDP for developing nations like India, China, Brazil and South Africa, the demand for energy and fossil fuel is ever increasing. This led to the need of exploring alternative fuels to meet the ever growing energy demands. Interestingly, vegetable oils as an alternate diesel engine fuels dates back several decades. There is need for ideal, renewable, cleaner and environmental friendly energy source in order to reduce the havoc caused by continuous dependence on conventional energy source. The present study aimed at producing biodiesel from alm kernel seeds. The soybean seeds were sun-dried for five days and grounded into fine particles with grinding machine. The oil was extracted from grounded soybean seeds by solvent extraction methods. The extracted oil was transesterified to biodiesel 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 52.20% saturated, 40.70% monounsaturated and 7.1% polyunsaturated fatty acids. The physicochemical properties of the methyl ester produced were : Colour (Colorless), specific gravity (0.8700), kinematic viscosity(2.41 mm2/s at 40oC), flash point (134oC), cloud point (-9oC), pour point (-6oC), refractive index (1.46), heat of combustion (37MJ/kg), density (0.8700 g/cm3), ash content (0.02%) , acid value (0.35mgKOH/g), saponification value (222 mgKOH/g), peroxide value (2.8 meq/kg), iodine value (44. 80mgI2/g), free fatty acid (1.15 %), cetane number (71), oxidative stability (6.91 hrs), long chain saturated factor (25.10 oC), cold-filter plugging point (67.31oC), degree of unsaturation (66.80), high heating value (44.80oC) and water content (0.06). Palm kernel seeds biodiesel meet acceptable global requirements for biodiesel production. Hence, Palm kernel seeds are an ideal substitute and fits in as starting materials for production of diesel fuel.
|
|
|
| | |