Synthesis and Characterization of Biodiesel from Castor Bean as Alternative Fuel for Diesel Engine

Abstract

This paper deals with the transesterification of Ricinus Communis (RC) oil with methanol to produce biodiesel in the presence of KOH as a catalyst. Moreover, this study analysis the fuel properties of RC biodiesel and diesel fuel blend to use castor oil methyl ester as a possible alternative fuel for diesel engines. Various properties of the RC biodiesel and their blends such as density, kinematic viscosity, iodine value, saponification number, Cetane number, heating value, flash point and acid value were determined. The experimental results were compared well with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D6751) and European biodiesel standards (EN 14214). The experimental design as well as statistical analysis were done and analyzed using design expert 8.0.7.1 version soft ware. The predicted optimum conditions for castor oil biodiesel production were a reaction temperature of 59.890c, methanol to oil ratio of 8.10:1 and a catalyst of 1.22 wt% of oil. The methyl ester content under these optimum conditions was 94.5% w/w of oil, and all of the measured properties of the biodiesel met the international standards of EN14214 and ASTM D 6751 with the exception of density and viscosity. Therefore, the viscosity and density of the ester was high and further reduced by blending with diesel fuel up to B45 to satisfy within the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 limits for biodiesel.