A comparative study of the effect of field practices on the fuel properties of groundnut kernels biodiesel

Abstract

The impact of pre-harvest treatments (field practices) on the fuel (biodiesel) properties produced from groundnut kernels was evaluated in this work. Ahigh-quality oil-yielding groundnut hybrid (SAMNUT 11) was grown under five different soil treatment regimes. The regimes were organic and conventional, though the treatment concentrations were systematically varied. Biodiesels produced from matured kernels (for the different treatment plans) were tested following the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) International and European Biodiesel (EN) procedures. Results obtained revealed that the biodiesel density ranged between 856 kg/m3 and 869 kg/m3, the acid value ranged between 0.695% and 1.118%, the iodine value ranged from 27.54 mg/L to 34.63 mg/L, the phosphorus concentration varied from 8.21 mg/L to 10.25 mg/L, the ester content ranged between 91.87% and 98.34%, and the alkali metals varied from 2.143 mg/L to 3.428 mg/L. All biodiesel produced fromthe pre-harvest treated kernels met the EN-ISO 12185 and EN 14213 standards for densities and ester contents, respectively. It was observed that the T2 and T3 acid values were 0.871% and 0.695%, respectively, while the T4 and T5 acid values were 1.033% and 1.118%, respectively, and all failed to meet both ASTM and EN standards, though the organically produced kernel’s biodiesels had better prospects. Furthermore, it was observed that the iodine values of the biodiesels, obtained from the five treatment plans, were within the EN 14214 approved standards for biodiesel. The findings portrayed that the organic manure had a more positive impact on the groundnut kernels, compared to groundnut grown with fertilizers. As observed from the results, the biodiesel produced from the organic kernels hada better fuel quality than that acquired from the convectional kernels.