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Preparation and characterisation of Citrulus colocynthis oil biodiesel: Optimisation of alkali‐catalysed transesterification
Author(s) -
Elsheikh Yasir A.,
Man Zakaria,
Bustam M. Azmi,
Akhtar Faheem H.,
Yusup Suzana,
Muhammad Ayyaz
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.21846
Subject(s) - transesterification , biodiesel , sodium methoxide , potassium hydroxide , chemistry , biodiesel production , acid value , methanol , sodium hydroxide , oleic acid , organic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , catalysis , biochemistry
A non‐edible oil of Citrulus colocynthis was investigated as a prospective feedstock for biodiesel production by transesterification reaction with methanol. The content of fatty acid methyl ester in the produced oil obtained by four alkaline‐catalysed transesterifications, i.e. sodium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, potassium methoxide and potassium hydroxide was evaluated. Important fuel properties of the produced biodiesel such as ester content, density, kinematic viscosity and acid value were measured and compared. The ester ingredients in the biodiesel product were myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linolenic. The best quality of Citrulus colocynthis oil at the highest yield of 97.8% was produced at a constant mixing rate of 600 rpm, methanol/oil molar ratio of 6:1, 60°C reaction temperature for 60 min, using 1.0 wt% of NaOH.