Effects of addition of banana peels on the rheological properties of transesterified calabash oil

Abstract

Biodiesel has emerged as a viable alternative to fossil diesel, offering a renewable energy source. However, most biodiesel produced  through transesterification has a viscosity exceeding the diesel limit, leading to ignition delay and engine clutching. Research suggests  that powdered additives can mitigate this issue. This study investigates the effect of banana peel additives on the rheological properties  of transesterified calabash oil. The morphology and elemental composition of banana peels were analyzed using Scanning Electron  Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). The results show that adding banana peels reduces the viscosity of the biodiesel, with a  significant variation observed at 0.5wt% additive concentration. These findings indicate that banana peels can be used as a biodiesel  additive to improve the rheological properties of transesterified calabash oil."