EFFECTS OF PROCESS VARIABLES ON THE YIELD AND VISCOSITY OF METHYL ESTERS DERIVED FROM PRUNUS AMYGDALUS, DYACRODES EDULIS AND CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDIUM

Authors : Chizoo ESONYE, Okechukwu Dominic ONUKWULI, Akuzuo Uwaoma OFOEFULE

Pages : 25-40

View : 31 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2019-03-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This paper investigates the significance of the operating conditions on the production of methyl esters from seed oils of sweet almond insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Prunus amygdalus);, African star apple insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Chrysophyllum albidium); and African pear insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Dyacrodes edulis);. The effects of various process conditions such as catalyst amount, reaction temperature, methanol/oil molar ratio and reaction time on biodiesel yield and its viscosity were studied. The result shows that African pear seed oil methyl ester insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(APSOME);, sweet almond seed oil methyl ester insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SASOME); and African star apple seed oil methyl ester insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ASASOME); production is optimized at a mixing rate of 140rpm, atmospheric pressure, temperature of 65˚C, reaction time of 65 minutes, methanol to oil molar ratio of 8:1 and catalyst concentration of 1.5wt%, 2.0wt% and 2.0wt% respectively. The alkaline methylic transesterification gave 94.50%, 95.50% and 85.70% yields of esters with viscosity of 2.60mm2/s, 2.45mm2/s and 2.40mm2/s respectively. The physico-chemical properties of the seed oils showed improved fuel qualities upon transesterification compared well with ASTM and EN standards. The GC-MS result showed mainly unsaturation characteristics. A total of 37.74% saturated fatty acid insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SFA);, 41.42% monounsaturated fatty acid insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MUSFA); and 13.90% polyunsaturated fatty acids insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PUSF); were found to be contained in SASOME. ASASOME contains 27.71% SFA, 53.30% MUSFA and 18.99% PUSFA while APSOME contains 14.78% SFA, 75.50% MUSFA and 6.41% PUSFA. These results attest the viability of the selected tropical seed oils in biodiesel production.
Keywords : Transesterification variables, biodiesel yield, viscosity, sweet almond, african star apple, African pear

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