Biodiesel production from Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (l) Moench) plant

Abstract

Several biological plants which substrates can be used in the production of biofuels have been identified in the world. Although most of these plants are used for food which may present a risk of food supply, but will also encourage production and utilization of such plant. Okra is a vegetable plant commonly grown throughout the tropics, especially in West Africa for its tender fruits and sometimes the leaves for soup, thus the necessity for investigating the energy potential of the whole plant (Seed, fruit, leaves, and stem) biomass. Okra is an easily cultivated plant which could yield high return to the farmer if utilize for energy (Biofuel) source. Two replicates of each sample at mass 100, 300 and 500 g, n-hexane volume 500, 750 and 1000 ml and drying time 1,2 and 3 hours were used. Fresh Okra plant was obtained from the field of Institute of Agricultural research and training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria and digested in a laboratory following a standard procedure to obtain ethanol then transesterified to produce biodiesel. The average volumes of diesel obtained from each part of the plant are 18.52, 19.62, 24.07, 28.18 ml for seed, fruit, leave and stem respectively. The overall best percentage of okra plant biodiesel production was 152.6 l / ton (time). Comparing the previously reported values for maize, carrot, cocoyam, cassava, sugarcane and iroko timber to 410, 100, 139, 150, 70 and 130 l / tonnes of biomaterial; shows that okra is also a promising biofuel substrate and future energy plant.