화학공학소재연구정보센터
Energy Sources Part A-recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects, Vol.31, No.13, 1105-1114, 2009
Determination of Optimum Temperature for the Laboratory Preparation of Biodiesel from Nigerian Palm Kernel Oil
As Nigeria envisions transition from finite fossil energy requirements to a safer, sustainable, and renewable alternative, local palm kernel oil is investigated as an alternative source of diesel fuel through potassium hydroxide catalyzed transesterification with ethanol. Three replicated experimental runs were conducted at 30C, 37.5C, 45C, 52.5C, 60C, 65C, and 70C under reaction conditions of 100 g palm kernel oil, 1.0% potassium hydroxide, 20% ethanol (wt% palm kernel oil) and 90 min reaction time. Results show some palm kernel oil biodiesel properties to be within standard fuel specifications, while average palm kernel oil biodiesel yields of 59.0%, 69.0%, 77.4%, 87.5%, 95.4%, 95.4%, and 94.4% were obtained for the respective reaction temperatures. Optimal palm kernel oil biodiesel yield occurred at 60C.