Physico-chemical properties of oil from some selected underutilized oil seeds available for biodiesel preparation

Abstract

In the past few decades, there has been increasing demand for reduction on the reliance on fossil fuels. As a result, there is an increasing search for renewable resources for biodiesel production. In this study, the  feasibility of using some selected tropical seeds: palm kernel, breadfruit, groundnut, bambara groundnut,  pumpkin, African oil bean, melon, sesame, coconut, soybean, Cucumeropsis manii, and Dacryodes edulis as sources of biodiesel production were investigated. These results suggest that these seeds (with the exception of breadfruit, African oil bean, coconut and dacryodes edulis), could be used as sources of biodiesel production, going by their yield. Physico-chemical analysis revealed that tested parameters were within the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard specifications for biodiesel production. In actual fact, the iodine values of palm kernel, groundnut, bambara groundnut, pumpkin, African oil bean and sesame, show that they could be used as lubricants and hydraulic brake fluid.

Key words: Oil seeds, biodiesel, properties, extraction.