Appraisal of Physicochemical Properties of Castor Oil Biodiesel Blends with Petro-diesel

Chika Muhammad; Muhammad Sabiu Jibrin; Muhammad Mukhtar; Abdullahi Muhammad Sokoto; Aliyu Sarkin Baki

Authors

Chika Muhammad Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria
Muhammad Sabiu Jibrin Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria
Muhammad Mukhtar Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria
Abdullahi Muhammad Sokoto Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria
Aliyu Sarkin Baki Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria

Keywords:

Biodiesel, blend, petro diesel, refluxed calcined snail shell, castor seed oil and transesterification

Abstract

Addition of additives or blending of conventional diesel with biodiesel improve the cetane number and minimize emission of greenhouse gases. In this study, the biodiesel was produced from refined castor seed oil using refluxed calcined snail shell (CaO) as the catalyst. The refluxed calcined snail shell catalyst was prepared by hydrothermal method. The castor seed oil was extracted by Soxhlet extraction method and the extracted oil has undergone pretreatment i.e. degumming and neutralization, in order to upgrade its physicochemical properties. The biodiesel produced was blended with conventional diesel as B10, B20 and B50 with different proportions. The physicochemical properties of biodiesel, conventional diesel and blends were analyzed and compared with ASTM standards of conventional diesel. The B10 biodiesel has the specific gravity (0.8586), kinematic viscosity (3.50 mm2 /s), cetane number (51.7702) and flash point (69 °C). This implies that the B10 blend has properties that correspond to the ASTM specifications of petrol-diesel; hence it has the potential to be used in the conventional diesel engine without necessary modification.