Abstract
In the efforts to reduce effects of climate change, biodiesel fuels from plant oils such as Jatropha curcas have been proposed as alternative fuels which can be used in the transportation sector in diesel engines. The current study investigates the effects of fatty acids composition on fuel properties of biodiesel derived from Jatropha curcas seeds obtained from selected regions of Botswana. The physicochemical fuel properties investigated include kinematic viscosity, flash point, energy content, density, pour point and cloud point from derived Jatropha curcas biodiesel. Results of the study showed that Jatropha curcas biodiesel samples for all regions under review are dominated by unsaturated fatty acids which are desirable for cold flow properties and kinematic viscosity of the biodiesel fuel. The major fatty acids in Jatropha curcas biodiesel fuels from all the regions range from 69.00% to 77.81% of unsaturated fatty acids. The overall results conclude that fatty acids composition has influence on the fuel properties of the biodiesel under investigated.
Highlights
The ever increasing demand for energy worldwide, driven by industrialization, has led to reliance on fossil fuels to satisfy these energy needs
Results of the study showed that Jatropha curcas biodiesel samples for all regions under review are dominated by unsaturated fatty acids which are desirable for cold flow properties and kinematic viscosity of the biodiesel fuel
The results further demonstrate that the percentage composition of monounsaturated fatty acid found in different
Summary
The ever increasing demand for energy worldwide, driven by industrialization, has led to reliance on fossil fuels to satisfy these energy needs. Use of fossil fuels is challenged by the depletion of known resources and the negative impact of the fuel’s combustion emissions on the environment which causes adverse effects such as climate change [1]. Biodiesel fuel has been identified as one of the clean alternative energy sources which can be utilized to mitigate said effects. Due to global concerns on utilization of edible feedstock such as sunflower. Rutz and Rainer [5] echoed that the choice for a certain feedstock is pre-determined by factors such as agricultural, geographical and climatic conditions where the feedstock is harvested
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