Transesterification Reaction of Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) on a Bed of Crushed Cashew Nut Shell (CCNS)

Abstract

Biodiesel (GA1) was produced by the transesterification reaction of palm kernel oil (PKO) and methanol catalysed by crushed cashew nut shaft. Biodiesel samples GA2 – GA4 were also produced from the palm kernel oil using conventional base catalysis by NaOH and crushed cashew nut shaft combined with NaOH. The physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data of the four samples were found to be similar and compared favourably to those of standard biodiesel.

Keywords: Transesterification, palm kernel oil, cashew nut shell, methanolysis, biodiesel.