Investigative Study of Biodiesel Production Properties of African Thevetia peruviana and Jatropha curcas seed oil Feedstocks using Local metallic salts as Catalysts

Investigative study into the potentials of African Thevetia peruviana and Jatropha curcas seed oil feedstocks as biodiesel fuels was conducted using local metallic salts as catalysts. The properties investigated were chemo-physical, thermal and fatty acid composition for the produced biodiesel fuels after transesterification of the two vegetable oils using potassium hydroxide (KOH), banana peel ash and coconut fiber ash as catalysts at the same reaction times and temperatures. Ten samples of biodiesel were produced from the two seed oils and subjected to different chemo-physical analysis including fatty acid profile using GC-MS; heating values and specific heat capacities at different temperatures using bomb calorimeter. Results revealed that Thevetia peruviana and Jatropha seed oils have oil yields of 48% and 46% respectively. The biodiesel yields from the biodiesel produced from KOH (89% and 85%) were higher than those produced from the local ashes (72%, 70%, 74.5%, and 73.8%). The densities/specific gravities of all the biodiesel samples were comparable with conventional diesel (AGO) and also fell within the ASTM (0.88 limit). The flash points of the samples (biodiesels from T. peruviana and Jatropha seed oils) were higher and better than that of AGO and conformed to standards (130°C minimum). All the samples were up to 130°C except those made using banana ash which were slightly lower but higher than reference diesel. The predominant fatty acids present in T oleander seed oils are palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, oleic, myristic and stearic acids while Jatropha seed oil is made up of palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, oleic, myristic and stearic acids at different proportion respectively. The heating values were quite lower than the standard reference diesel. This work may be advanced further making use of other locally sourced materials as catalysts.