Full Length Research Paper

Optimization of base catalyzed transesterification of peanut oil biodiesel

Mushtaq Ahmad*, Sofia Rashid, Mir Ajab Khan, Muhammad Zafar, Shazia Sultana and Sobia Gulzar

Biofuel and Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mushtaqflora@hotmail.com. Tel: 92 51 90643039. Fax: 92 51 90643138.

Accepted 12 December, 2008

This paper is confined to the production and physico-chemical characterization of peanut oil biodiesel (POB). An optimum conversion of POB from triglycerides (TD) was achieved by using 1:6 molar ratio (methanol : oil) at 60^oC. Fuel properties of POB were determined and compared with ASTM (American Standard Testing Material). The kinemetic viscosity at 40^oC (eta) of POB (100%) was 5.908, specific gravity 0.918, density at 40^oC (Rho) 0.0992, flash point (FP) 192, pour point (PP) 3^oC, cloud point (CP) 6^oC, and sulfur contents 0.0087. The engine performance by using POB in terms of consumption, efficiency and power output was quite comparable with petro-diesel (PD). It is concluded that most important factors affecting the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) yield during transesterification are molar ratio of methanol to oil and reaction temperature.

Key words: Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), transesterification, Arachis hypogea oil.