Effect of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) Nano Particles on the Viscosity of the Trans-esterified Neem Oil

Abstract

Biodiesel is being increasingly recognized as a promising alternative fuel amid concerns over the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution. However, despite its well-known advantages, biodiesel still faces challenges such as high viscosity, density, and surface tension, which limit its direct use in unmodified diesel engines. This study investigates the impact of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) on the viscosity of transesterified neem oil. The physical and chemical properties of POFA were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray fluoroscopy (XRF). The process involved purifying the crude neem oil, followed by transesterification, with varying concentrations (0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.4 wt%, and 0.5 wt%) of POFA used as a heterogeneous catalyst. The viscosity of the resulting samples was then measured. SEM analysis revealed the presence of dispersed particles on POFA, while XRF analysis indicated that POFA primarily consists of silicon oxide. It was observed that the viscosity of the samples decreased with increasing temperature and with higher concentrations of POFA. For instance, the viscosity decreased from 60.45 mPas at 20°C for crude neem oil to 29.33 mPas at 60°C for transesterified neem oil with 0.5 wt% POFA. Importantly, the viscosities measured were found to consistent with ASTM standards. This research demonstrates the potential of using neem oil as a biodiesel feedstock with the addition of POFA as a catalyst.