| Abstrakt: |
Sustainable energy management has become a high priority in Nigeria, as well as in many countries around the world. The majority of our energy stock comes from non-renewable fossil fuels, which are currently dwindling. Biofuels are one of the most promising solutions being researched to address this urgent problem. In particular, using transesterified Hura crepitans seed oil appears to be a promising method of producing biofuels, due to the availability of Hura crepitans trees in Nigeria, and the fact that it does not compete with food crops. The use of a polymer catalyst makes the separation and purification of the final product steps easier than catalysis in homogeneous conditions, but the high incidence of free fatty acid (FFA) in Hura crepitans seed oil shows the need for a 2-step transesterification process. Thus, this study investigated the transesterification of Hura crepitans seed oil using a methanol and polymer based catalyst. This study was achieved with a methanol/oil molar ratio of 3:1, 0.15 % catalyst (w/wt), 50 °C reaction temperature, for 1hr reaction times, resulting in an 82 % fatty acid methyl ester yield, a 0.520 mgKOH/g acid value, and a 235, 9 and -5 °C, flash point, cloud point, and pour point, respectively. The result further reveals a 912.40 kg/m3 density, a 4.75 Cst kinematic viscosity, 0.021 mass% free glycerin, 0.280 mass% free glycerin, and 0.280 mass% total glycerin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
