Abstract
In recent years research on biodiesel production from non-edible seed oil is receiving more attention to prevent food vs biofuels problems such as starvation in developing countries. Castor seed oil is potential non-edible biodiesel feedstock, but it has high viscosity and high acid value which are among the undesired factors in biodiesel production. The castor seed oil was extracted using soxhlet extraction method, refined using standard analytical methods and its physicochemical properties was determined using ASTM methods. The crude extracts of castor seeds oil which was characterized as high viscous oil, was refined to improve its quality, and physicochemical properties of refined and crude extracts castor seed oil was studies. The crude extracts oil (41.29±1.54%) produce was refined to reduce its high viscosity (233.0±2.00 mm<sup>2</sup>/s) and acid value (4.488±0.40 mgKOH/g). The viscosity and acid value of the oil significant reduced to 159.0±3.00 mm<sup>2</sup>/s and 2.805±0.20 mgKOH/g after the refining process. The others physicochemical properties such as flash point, saponification value, iodine value, moisture contents, specific gravity, refractive index, kinematic viscosity, cloud point, pour point and free fatty acids qualities were improved after refining. The study show that refined castor seed oil were more suitable in biodiesel production than crude castor seed oil.
Highlights
Castor oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and is high in vitamin E, minerals, proteins and Omega 6 and 9 beneficial fatty acids
The general problem of vegetable oils that make it difficult to be used as fuel are their high viscosity which affects their fluidity in engine and high acid value which may cause corrosion in the engine
This is the measure of the total free and combined acid in Castor oil obtained from castor beans contain about 38 -60 % the oil expressed as the number of milligrams of potassium of oil which can be used in production of paints, varnishes, hydroxide required for the complete saponification on 1 g of lubricants, grease, hydraulic fluids, soaps, pharmaceuticals, the oil [16]
Summary
Castor oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and is high in vitamin E, minerals, proteins and Omega 6 and 9 beneficial fatty acids. Ricinoleic acid is the main fatty acid from castor oil, this fatty acid possesses 18 carbons with three highly reactive functional groups: the carbonyl group in 1st carbon, the double linking or unsaturation in 9th carbon and the hydroxyl group in 12th carbon. This feature causes castor oil properties are different from other vegetable oils [5]. The high content of ricinoleic acid, with a hydroxyl group, is the reason for castor oil has especially high viscosity and density. Castor oil is characterized by its high stability, high hygroscopicity and its solubility in alcohol, which affects the transesterification reaction [6]
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