Possibility of converting indigenous Salvadora persica L. seed oil into biodiesel in Pakistan |
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| Authors: | Mehmood Ali Beena Naqvi Ian A Watson |
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| Institution: | 1. Environmental Engineering Department, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan;2. Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories Complex, Karachi, Pakistan;3. Systems, Power and Energy Research Division, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK |
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| Abstract: | In this research study, biodiesel has been successfully produced from vegetable seed oil of an indigenous plant Salvadora persica L. that meets the international biodiesel standard (ASTM D6751). The biodiesel yield was 1.57 g/5 g (31.4% by weight) and the in-situ transesterification ester content conversion was 97.7%. The produced biodiesel density was 0.894 g/mL, its kinematic viscosity 5.51 mm2/s, HHV 35.26 MJ/kg, flash point 210°C, cetane no. 61, and sulfur content 0.0844%. Thermal analysis of the biodiesel showed that 97% weight loss was achieved at 595°C with total oxidation of the biodiesel. The production energy efficiency was 0.46% with a lab scale setup, assuming the volume fraction ratio (volume of the sample/total volume of the equipment used). The results revealed that single-step in-situ transesterification method is suitable for the production of biodiesel from S. persica seed oil. |
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| Keywords: | Biodiesel energy analysis Salvadora persica thermogravimetry transesterification |
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