BIODIESEL PRODUCTION USING ERUCA SATIVA OIL: OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

In the present study Eruca sativa oil (Taramira oil) was explored for the production of biodiesel by optimizing transesterification process using NaOH, KOH and NaOCH3 as catalysts. Optimization of different reaction parameters i.e., catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time and alcohol to oil molar ratio was done using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The order of catalytic effectiveness regarding production of the biodisel using three different catalysts was found to be NaOCH3 > KOH > NaOH. The biodiesel was characterized following GC-MS and FTIR analyses. The fuel properties such as cetane number 59.8, density 0.871 g/cm3 , specific gravity 0.889, pour point -2.97o C, kinematic viscosity 5.71 mm2 /s, flash point 197.5o C carbon residue 0.01% of the biodiesel produced ascertained the suitability of oil as a potential source for biodiesel production.