Selected Fuel Properties of Biodiesel Produced from Shea Butter and Palm Kernel Oil

Abstract

Tranesterification reaction was carried out on raw Shea Butter Oil (SBO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) to separate the ester from glycerol using ethanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide as catalyst. The properties of biodiesel (ethyl ester) obtained from varying proportions of diesel were experimentally determined and compared with that of conventional diesel. The fatty acid profile of the oil samples were determined using standard methods. Four blends (10, 20, 25 and 30%) of SBO and PKO by volume with diesel oil were produced and fuel properties determined include viscosity, relative density, specific gravity, flash, cloud and pour points. Mean values of the six fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic) obtained for shea butter and palm kernel oil samples were 5.3, 1.5, 13.5, 15.6 and 8.4, 2.5, 15.3, 2.3% respectively. The viscosity ranged between 1.52 – 16.6 at 40 and 100^oC; relative density ranged between 826-856 kg/m³, specific gravity ranged between 0.861–0.901; flash point ranged between 55 – 260⁰C, cloud and pour point values ranged from 4.85-6⁰C and -25 to – 12⁰C. The transesterification of the oil samples decreased cloud and pour point of the shea butter and palm kernel oil samples. Based on the findings of this study, blend with 10, 20 and 25% of PKO and SBO content were found to have acceptable fuel properties for use in internal combustion engine. The adoption of the biodiesel will help to meet the increasing demand for energy in West African countries due to the quality of the oil