Production of biodiesel using novel C. lepodita oil in the presence of heterogeneous solid catalyst

Chidi Obi , Millicent Uzoamaka Ibezim-Ezeani and Ebere Jane Nwagbo

Abstract

Present study was designed to produce biodiesel using Cola lepidota seed oil in the presence of clay catalyst. The extraction was done in petroleum ether and oil was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR)
and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The biodiesel produced, was characterized for specific gravity, kinematic viscosity, American petroleum index (API) gravity, flash point, cloud point, aniline point and diesel index. The
result from FTIR shows that there was C-N stretching aliphatic amine at 1072.46 cm-1, CH2X alkyl halides at 1226.77 cm-1, C-C stretching (in ring) aromatics at 1442.80 cm-1, N-O asymmetric stretching nitro compounds at 1527.67cm-1, C=C
stretching α, β unsaturated esters at 1712.85 cm-1, C-C stretching aromatics at 2924.18 cm-1, O-H stretch or free hydroxyl alcohols or phenols at 3610.86 cm-1. The oil yield was 1.76%. The result revealed that the biodiesel showed the
following properties; specific gravity (0.862 g/cm3), viscosity (4.8mm2/sec), API (30.24 oC), flash point (80 oC), cloud point (-2 oC), aniline point (68 oC) and diesel index (1.424). These values were within the recommended limits of American
Standard for Testing Material (ASTM D6751). This study reveals that C. lepidota oil is a veritable precursor for biodiesel production and other industrial applications.