Production and characterization of biodiesel from the seed of dacryodes edulis (african pear)

In this study, Oil from the seed of Dacryodes edulis was extracted using cold maceration method. The oil obtained had high acid value of 4.40mgKOH/g. Therefore the production of biodiesel was processed via two step acid – base transesterification process. The first step reduced the acid level to 2.60mgKOH/g while the second step involved direct conversion to fatty acid methyl ester using 1wt% NaOH as catalyst, 1:6 of oil to methanol ratio, 333 Kelvin and 1 hour reaction time. The yields of the oil and its methyl ester were 29% and 67% respectively. The biodiesel produced was analyzed for its fuel properties and yielded the following result; viscosity at 40oC (5.17mm2/s), density (0.87g/ml), cloud point (8oC), pour point (7.500C), flash point (1520C), fire point (1600C) and acid value (1.80mgKOH/g). The results obtained showed that most of the important properties were within the American standard test method (ASTM) of D 6751 of Biodiesel.