Biodiesel Production from Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis) Seed Oil Through Koh-Catalysed Transesterification Reaction

Abstract

The global energy concerns and increased awareness of the environmental issues resulting from the
extensive consumption of fossil fuels has made the search for the production of biodiesel as an
alternative energy source worldwide. Biodiesel is one such renewable fuel for diesel engines which is
made from biolipids that receives a considerable attention. In this research work, the Fluted pumpkin
(Telfairia occidentalis) seed oil was investigated for its suitability as a feedstock for biodiesel
production. The seed oil was extracted on a dry matter basis using petroleum ether and found to be
within 51-53%. and the seed oil quality parameters of Telfairia occidental seed oil (TOSO) were
determined and found to be; moisture content – 8.29%, specific gravity (SG) – 900kgm-3, viscosity –
21.21mm2s-1, iodine value (IV), 98.4g iodine/100g oil, saponification value (PV) – 105.19meqkg-1,
acid value (AV), 11.78mg KOH/kg oil, free fatty acid (FFA) – 5.92%. Subsequently the methyl ester
of TOSO was prepared and the fuel quality parameters determined and compared to that of diesel
number 2 (D2). Similar tests were carried out on the diesel D2 that was used as a standard and the
following results obtained for TOSO methyl ester were as follows; kinematic viscosity, 2.65mm2s-1,
flash point, 1400C, pour point, - 20C, density, 859kgm-3, cloud point, 00C, and calorific value,
12188J.The TOSO fatty acid methyl ester (FAMES) properties were further compared to literature
data for Cucurbita pepo methyl ester (CPME) and Thevetia nerifolia methyl ester (TNME), and with
the American and European standards for biodiesel (ASTM D6751 and EN14214) in order to assess
their biodiesel performance properties and were found to fall within acceptable limits. The fuel
properties obtained for the methyl ester are density – 0.856gml-1, flash point – 1740C, pour point - -
50C, cloud point – 30C, viscosity – 2.35mm2-s-1, calorific value – 12017J and cetane number – 62.30.
The fuel properties indicates that FAMES of TOSO can be used as a biodiesel in warm climate regions
like Nigeria.