Biodiesel Production from Terminalia catappa (Tropical Almond) Seed Oil using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalyst

Chika Muhammad; Asiya Bello; Francis Agada; Muhammad Sabiu Jibrin; Yahaya Alhassanq

Authors

Chika Muhammad Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
Asiya Bello Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
Francis Agada Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
Muhammad Sabiu Jibrin Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
Yahaya Alhassanq Petrochemicals and Allied Department, National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, Nigeria

Keywords:

Biodiesel, Diesel Engine, Snail Shell, Transesterification, Renewable Energy, Characterization

Abstract

Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almond seed oil. The almond oil was extracted using n-hexane and then transesterified using CaO catalyst derived from snail shell into biodiesel. The catalyst was calcined and characterized using Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform-InfraRed (FT-IR) methods. The Physicochemical and fuel properties of the biodiesel were determined and compared to ASTM approved ranges. The Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) present in Tropical Almond biodiesel after characterization analysis per area percent include; Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (55.95 %), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester (5.88 %), 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (9.23 %), Cyclopropane, (2-methylenebutyl) (0.07 %) and Methyl stearate (4.58 %). The optimum yield of biodiesel (73.60 %) was obtained at a temperature of 60 °C and time of 120 minutes. The experimental results showed the percentage yield of Almond Seed Oil to be 56.8 % and that of the biodiesel produced to be 65.71 %. Critical Fuel Properties of Almond Seed Oil investigated such as density (0.89 g/cm3 ), pour point (0.6 °C), cloud point (6.1 °C), flash point (148 °C) and specific gravity (0.90) are in conformity with ASTM D6751 standards. This makes Tropical Almond Seed Oil a good feedstock for biodiesel production with little modifications in its properties.