Pithecellobium monadelphum Kosterm: A non-edible feedstock for biodiesel production

Pithecellobium monadelphum seed oil was extracted and transesterification was carried out using methanol as the solvent in presence of a catalyst to produce biodiesel. The acid value of crude oil of Pithecellobium monadelphum Kosterm seed was estimated as 0.968 mg KOH/g and that of biodiesel was found to be 0.073 mg of KOH/g which is far below the specified maximum limit of ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. The value of refractive index and density decreases when the seed oil is converted to biodiesel. Predictions of three important chemical properties of biodiesel viz. iodine value, saponification number and cetane index were performed following theoretical calculation based upon fatty acid profile of P. monadelphum biodiesel and found to meet the necessary biodiesel standards of ASTM D6751 and EN 14214

Author(s): Sanjay Basumatary

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