Application and analysis of biodiesel produced from refined rubber seed oil as an alternative fuel

Abstract The production of carbon dioxide from the conventional fuel is eliminated in biodiesel because all of the carbon dioxide that would have been released during combustion is sequestrated out of the atmosphere during crop growth, thereby making the biodiesel more environmentally friendly. This study was on the production and analysis of biodiesel from refined rubber seeds obtained from the rubber research institute in Benin, Edo State Nigeria. The rubber seeds collected were cleaned and air-dried to constant weight. The rubber seed oil (RSO) was extracted using n-hexane solvent with soxhlet apparatus. From the analysis of the extracted refined RSO which was transesterified with ethanol using Potassium Hydroxide, the following physicochemical properties were obtained: the acid value, the saponification value, the Iodine value, the specific gravity, the free fatty acid value, the pH value, the peroxide value and the refractive index. These values were compared to the values of the corresponding physicochemical properties of crude RSO, and it was confirmed that the both sets of values were similar. The refined RSO was characterized according to ASTM standard based on the following properties: Flash point, water and sediment value, kinematic viscosity, sulphated ash value and the acid number value, it was confirmed that these values were in line with the ASTM standard values except for the flash point value that fell below the ASTM standard. This study confirmed that RSO from Nigeria is a viable feedstock for biodiesel production and the shortfall in the flash point value can be corrected by proper ethanol-oil blend and improved refining.

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Updated: June 27, 2023 — 10:39 am