Comparative Analysis of Biodiesels from Calabash and Rubber Seeds Oils

Abstract

Physicochemical properties of biodiesel from vegetable oils depend on the inherent properties of the oil-producing seeds. The purpose of this study is to investigate the physicochemical properties of biodiesels extracted from calabash and rubber seeds oils, as well as their combined oil mixtures with a view to ascertaining the most suitable for biodiesel production. Calabash and rubber seeds oils were separately extracted through the use of a mechanical press with periodic addition of water. Biodiesels were produced from each category of the oils by transesterification of the free fatty acid (FFA) with alcohol under the influence of a catalyst in batch process. The physicochemical properties of the biodiesels were investigated and comparatively analysed. The results obtained indicated an average of 1.40 wt% FFA for biodiesel produced from the purified calabash oil, which has a specific gravity of 0.920, pH of 5.93, flash point of 116 0C, fire point of 138 0C, cloud point of 70 0C, pour point of -4 0C, moisture content of 0.82 wt% and specific heat capacity of 5301 J/kgK. Conversely, the results obtained for biodiesel produced from the purified rubber oil showed an average of 33.66 wt% FFA, specific gravity of 0.885, pH of 5.51, flash point of 145 0C, fire point of 170 0C, cloud point of 10 0C, pour point of 4 0C, moisture content of 1.30 wt% and specific heat capacity of 9317 J/kgK. However, results obtained for biodiesel produced from the combined oil mixtures indicated an average of 19.77 wt% FFA content, specific gravity of 0.904, API gravity of 25.036, pH value of 5.73, flash point of 157 0C, Fire point of 180 0C, cloud point of 9 0C, pour point of 5 0C, moisture content of 0.93 wt% and specific heat capacity of 6051 J/kgK. Biodiesel produced from calabash seed oil is superior in quality to rubber seed oil, particularly in terms of its low FFA and moisture contents.

Comparative evaluation of physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of rubber seed oil from different regions of Bangladesh

“…The cloud point of a bio-oil is the temperature below which the oil forms a cloudy appearance. The values cloud point of RSO from different regions was consistent with earlier reported literature [ 50 ]. Although, according to ASTM standard D 6751, no limit is specified for cloud point.…”

Influence of the Rubber Seed Type and Altitude on Characteristic of Seed, Oil and Biodiesel

“…The linoleic acid classified as unsaturated fatty acids with the atomic number 18 and two double bonds. The same result reported Pianthong & Prachasanti (2009); Yousif et al (2013), Gimbun et al (2013), Bello & Otu (2015) and Awulu et al (2015) that the main content of rubber seed oil is linoleic acid with percentage of 41.38, 36.31, 20.07, 37.7 and 37.5 %, respectively. The results showed that the fatty acids from local and superior rubber seeds in Lahat district with altitude more than 600 m have a different composition than others.…”

Analysis of Calophyllum Inophyllum Biodiesel Combustion with Variations of Magnetic Field Strength

“…Second generation biodiesel is an alternative fuel that has the potential to replace fossil fuels [1][2][3]. Biodiesel is a mixture of methyl esters with long chain fatty acids made from non-toxic biological raw materials such as vegetable oils and animal oils [4,5]. Biodiesel as an alternative fuel for diesel engines offers several advantages, including its properties being almost the same as diesel fuel and can be used directly in diesel engines [6].…”