Assessment of the Conversion of Luffa cylindrical Seed Oil into Biodiesel using CaO/Metakaolin as Heterogenous Catalyst

Abstract

The efficiency of calcium oxide supported metakaolin catalyst in the transesterification of Luffa cylindrical seed oil into biodiesel was studied using standard analytical techniques. Some physicochemical properties of the seed oil were determined and the fuel quality parameters of its fatty acid methyl ester (Biodiesel) were investigated. The results obtained were: colour (reddish-brown), yield (39.23 %), specific gravity (0.90 g/cm3), kinematic viscosity (17.23 mm2/s), pH (4.72), refractive index (1.466), acid value (22.58 mgKOH/g), free fatty acid (11.29 mgKOH/g), saponification value (115.005 mgKOH/g), iodine value (39.300 mgI2/100 g) while the biodiesel properties were: colour (reddishbrown), biodiesel yield (92.29 %), API gravity (22o), refractive index (1.470), specific gravity (0.880g/cm3), kinematic viscosity (5.62 mm2/s), acid value (4.21 mgKOH/g), cloud point (7 oC), pour point (4 oC) and flash point (170 oC). The values obtained indicates that the oil may not be suitable for edible purposes due to high acid value but may be employed industrially in the manufacturing of products such as liquid soaps, paints, shampoos and biodiesel. CaO/Kaolin catalyst was found to be effective in the transesterification of the seed oil and the fatty acid methyl ester (FAMEs) produced was also found to meet most of the standards for biodiesel set by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and EN (European Norm).