Abstract
This research tested the hypothesis of whether fatty acid saturation and chain length of feedstock oil has any effect on the physico-chemical properties of synthesized kerosene-like fuel. Biodiesel was obtained from the feedstocks via transesterification and were subjected to distillation under vacuum between 50 to 100 o C to obtain kerosene-like fuel as the final product. The heat value, flash points, kinematic viscosity and specific gravity values were obtained and found to be within the stipulated range of fossil kerosene. The products were analysed using infrared spectrometer to confirm the presence of the functional groups in the kerosene-like fuel produced. Furthermore, Analysis by the elemental analyser showed that the kerosene-like fuel obtained from coconut oil has a significantly higher heat content value (9211.9 Kcal.Kg -1 ) than that from cashew-nut oil (5699.4 Kcal.Kg -1 ). This distinction in heat value can be ascribed to the nature of fatty acid in the oils as coconut oil is significantly more saturated and has shorter fatty acid hydrocarbon chain length than cashew-nut oil.
Highlights
For many years, crude oil has been the major source of energy worldwide
Palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid that contain unsaturated C-C bonds make up about 63.28% of cashew-nut oil fatty acid while oleic and linoleic acids containing unsaturated C-C bonds make up about 7.12% of coconut oil fatty acid
Biodiesel products were obtained from the feedstocks via transesterification and subjected to distillation under vacuum between 50 to 100 oC to obtain kerosene-like fuel as the final product with high yields of bio-kerosene; 74 % and 66 % for coconut and cashew nut kerosene-like fuel respectively
Summary
Crude oil has been the major source of energy worldwide. The call for a sustainable alternative can be ascribed to many factors. The yield of kerosene-like fuel obtained from the biodiesel produced was 74.0 % (coconut oil) and 66.0 % (cashew nut oil) respectively. GC-MS was used to determine the chemical composition of the kerosene-like fuel produced from coconut and cashew nut oil.
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