Determination of the Viscosity of Trans-esterified Garlic Oil

Abstract

The use of renewable energy sources, such as biodiesel, has emerged as a promising solution to mitigate the challenges associated with fossil fuel consumption. Biodiesel can be synthesized through various methodologies, including transesterification, microemulsion, and pyrolysis. In this study, we focused on investigating the viscosity of transesterified garlic oil, a potential biodiesel feedstock. Firstly, crude Jatropha oil underwent purification and transesterification processes. Subsequently, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis was conducted to assess the presence of esters (biodiesel) in the transesterified samples. Additionally, the viscosities of the samples were measured across a temperature range from 20°C to 70°C, at intervals of 10°C, utilizing a Brookfield viscometer. The FTIR results confirmed the presence of esters in the transesterified samples, indicating successful biodiesel production. Furthermore, our viscosity measurements revealed a decrease in viscosity with increasing temperature, suggesting the feasibility of utilizing garlic oil as a biodiesel feedstock via the transesterification process.