PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM SOME VEGETABLE OILS

S. A. Adebisi; I. J. Akanmu; L. A. Azeez

S. A. Adebisi Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
I. J. Akanmu Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
L. A. Azeez Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria

Keywords: Feedstock, Biodiesel, physico-chemical properties, Tranesterification

Abstract

Biodiesel is becoming prominent among the alternatives to conventional petro-diesel due to economic,
environmental and social factors. The quality of biodiesel is influenced by the nature of feedstock and the
production processes employed. High amounts of free fatty acids (FFA) in the feedstock are known to be
detrimental to the quality of biodiesel. In addition, oils with compounds containing hydroxyl groups possess
high viscosity due to hydrogen bonding. American Standards and Testing Materials, (ASTM D 6751)
recommends FFA content of not more than 0.5% in biodiesel and a viscosity of less than 6 mm2/s. The
physico-chemical properties of palm kernel oil and coconut oil were assessed for their potentials in biodiesel.
The properties of palm kernel oil and coconut oil were compared with those of palm from literature while
that of biodiesel were compared with petro-diesel, ASTM and European Standards (EN14214). Results
showed that high amounts of FFA in oils produced low quality biodiesel while neutralized oils with low
amounts of FFA produced high quality biodiesel. The quality of biodiesel from palm kernel oil and coconut
oils was improved greatly by neutralising the crude oils