Optimisation of Biodiesel Production from Sandbox (Hura crepitans) Seed Oil

Abstract

Transesterification reaction is the most common method of biodiesel production from fats or vegetable oil. In this research, sandbox (Hura crepitans) seed oil is used as feedstock extracted by solvent extraction using N-hexane as solvent. The study evaluates properties of the oil for its suitability in biodiesel production, biodiesel yields as it is affected by the reacting conditions such as methano-oil molar ratio, reaction temperature, catalyst concentration and reaction time, the reaction conditions are optimized using two step four factor factorial design. Results indicate that the feedstock is suitable for biodiesel production, catalyst concentration and reaction times interaction are the important factors that has greater effect on the yield of ethyl ester. The optimum yield condition for sandbox (Hura crepitans) were 0.2wt/wt molar ratio, 30°C temperature, 0.4wt% catalyst concentration and 60 mins reaction time yielding 93% ethyl ester (biodiesel), and all the measured properties of sandbox (Hura crepitans) biodiesel met with ASTM6751 standard exception of high polarization rate and slightly high viscosity that can be normalized by appropriate blending. The result showed that only molar ratio showed a negative effect on the reaction. Hence adhering to the standards for high quality biodiesel and economically cheap production process.