Methanolysis of <i>Balanite aegyptiaca</i> (Desert Date) Oil using CaO as Catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel is a trans-esterified vegetable oil which is renewable energy source that can be considered as a pivotal solution to combating global warming, climate stabilization through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on mineral diesel. In this work Methanolysis of Balanite aegyptiaca (Desert date) seeds oil was done using a heterogeneous catalyst (CaO). The transesterification was carried out at 55 oC for a period of 1 h. and catalyst loading of 0.4%. FTIR as well as the physico-chemical parameter analysis of the biodiesel obtained were carried out; the FTIR spectrum shows major peaks at 3007 cm^-1, 2921 cm^-1, 1745 cm^-1, 1163 - 1210 cm^-1, 1439 cm^-1, 1033 cm^-1correspond to C-H stretching of alkene, C-H stretching of alkane, C=O of esters, O-C stretching of ester, CH3 asymmetric bending, O-CH3 of ester respectively. The results show a high yield of biodiesel was obtained (96.3%). Physico-chemical results show the density of 0.9 g/cm3, iodine value 96.95, and acid value 0.9. Thus, it can be concluded that Desert date (Balanite aegyptiaca) seed oil can be used as a good feedstock for the biodiesel production with high percentage yield.

Keywords: Biodiesel, Desert date, Heterogeneous catalyst, Methanolysis, Physico-chemical properties