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Global Research Journals Vol. 1(1) pp.001 - 013 July 2011
Available online http://www.globalresearchjournals.org/?a=journal&id=jcms
Copyright ©2011 Global Research Journals
Full Length Research.
Comparative Study of the properties of biodiesel prepared from Jatropha curcas oil and palm oil
M. A. OMOTOSO, M. J. AYODELE and A. O. AKINTUDIRE
Chemistry Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,Nigeria.
Corresponding Author’s E-mail:beckyomot@yahoo.com
Accepted 10th January 2011.
| Abstract |
Oil was extracted from jatropha curcas seeds and palm fruits fronds (Elaeis guineensis). Upon extraction, the oils were characterized using standard methods. The percentage oil yields were 60.4% and 35.1% respectively for jatropha carcus seeds and palm fruits.Two steps homogeneous base catalyzed trans-esterification process was adopted for the production of the biodiesels. The first step was the acid esterification reaction, in which methanol and 2% w/w of sulphuric acid (catalyst) was used at 65oC for 5hours. The second step involved a base trans-esterification reaction where potassium hydroxide was the catalyst at 65oC for 3hours. The percentage yield of the biodiesel from jatropha curcas oil and palm oil were 75.3% and 63.6% respectively. The physico-chemical parameters for the prepared biodiesel were determined and compared with ASTM D6751 and EN14214 biodiesel standards. The properties of Jatropha Curcas biodiesel were closer to the biodiesel specifications of the international standards.The quality and extent of fatty acids conversion to their fatty acids methyl esters (FAME) derivative was determined by subjecting the two vegetable oils and their biodiesel as well as petroleum diesel to GC-MS analysis. jatropha curcas and palm biodiesels were found to contain a total of 10 and 13 FAME respectively.
Keywords: jatropha curcas, palm oil (Elaeis guineensis), trans-esterification, physico-chemical, GC-MS analysis.