Abstract
Plant oil extracted from Kanyu almonds offers the potential to be an alternative to fossil fuel resources. This study aims to characterize the physico-chemical properties of kanyu almond oil, as safe indicators of the use of this biofuel for energy generators. Samples of the oils examined were density, kinematic viscosity, acid value, and oxidation stability. The experimental results showed that the oils had different sensitivities from the properties and indicate a clear deterioration of the kinematic viscosity and oxidation stability. These results were not in a condition to be used directly, such as fuels in diesel engines. Also, oil cannot be used immediately for feeding because it contains a high acid value. However, with the refining process, its kinematic viscosity and acid value can be improved, and can thus be used as biofuel and for other purposes. Key words: Kinematic viscosity, Induction time, Acid value, and Kanyu (Marula).
Highlights
IntroductionThe Nkanyi is a plant of Savana origin, belongs to the Anacardiaceae family of Scientific name Sclerocarya birrea, in Mozambique known as Nkanyi, with green and pale yellow fruit when ripe, known as kanyu, similar to a plum, measuring between 3 to 4 cm in diameter and with a fleshy mucilaginous pulp (Mariod and Abdelwahad, 2012)
This study aims to characterize the physic-chemical properties of kanyu almond oil, as safe indicators of the use of this biofuel for energy generation
The laboratory of the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Sciences was used for oil extraction and determination of the acid value, and the laboratory of the Chemistry Department of Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering was used for the determination of the kinematic viscosity, density, and induction time
Summary
The Nkanyi is a plant of Savana origin, belongs to the Anacardiaceae family of Scientific name Sclerocarya birrea, in Mozambique known as Nkanyi, with green and pale yellow fruit when ripe, known as kanyu, similar to a plum, measuring between 3 to 4 cm in diameter and with a fleshy mucilaginous pulp (Mariod and Abdelwahad, 2012). Kanyu almond oil has a light, pale, yellow-brown color and a pleasant nutty aroma (Francis and Tahir, 2016). Kanyu oil is a potential raw material for the production of biodiesel due to its physical and chemical characteristics. According to Bila and Vaz (2017) and Leewen et al (2015), Mozambique has ideal climatic conditions for the production of kanyu, with sufficient capacity to open a kanyu almond oil processing company, as an example, the Chigubo district with a production capacity of about 13 345 kg of almond/year
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