Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil
Biodiesel is becoming one of the most attractive alternative biofuels for petroleum-based diesel fuels. The castor plant is one of the abundant non-edible oils found in many countries. This paper aims to study Libyan castor oil and its potential for diesel conversion. Experiments were carried out i...
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Al-Khwarizmi College of Engineering – University of Baghdad
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Al-Khawarizmi Engineering Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://alkej.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/alkej/article/view/1014 |
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| author | Nadya Hussin AL Sbani Awatif Meelad Omar sultan Alaa Mohammed Amani Kwadikha Saleh Tweib |
| author_facet | Nadya Hussin AL Sbani Awatif Meelad Omar sultan Alaa Mohammed Amani Kwadikha Saleh Tweib |
| author_sort | Nadya Hussin AL Sbani |
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Biodiesel is becoming one of the most attractive alternative biofuels for petroleum-based diesel fuels. The castor plant is one of the abundant non-edible oils found in many countries. This paper aims to study Libyan castor oil and its potential for diesel conversion. Experiments were carried out in the laboratories of the Specific Center for Training in the Oil Industries in Al-Zawiya. The oil was extracted using a Soxhlet extractor and n-hexane solvent at 60 °C. Transesterification reactions were conducted in a batch reactor (a three-neck flask was used, where the middle opening carries a reflux condensation unit) at 65 °C. The methanol-to-castor oil molar ratio was 6:1, with a catalyst concentration of 1 wt.% relative to the castor oil, and the reaction time was 30 min. Castor oil was analysed and found to have a fatty acid content of 0.7%. The productivity of biodiesel exhibited 80% yield. Standard test methods of analysis were conducted to determine the biodiesel’s properties. Results indicated that the kinematic viscosity at 40 °C was 14.24 cSt, the density was 0.924 g/cm3, the cetane number (CN) was 54 and the pour point was −15 °C, indicating that castor oil biodiesel is of high quality, with a high CN and a low pour point.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-980e24b7dddb49b99dbc0c59acac8a0b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1818-1171 2312-0789 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Al-Khwarizmi College of Engineering – University of Baghdad |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Al-Khawarizmi Engineering Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-980e24b7dddb49b99dbc0c59acac8a0b2025-08-20T03:24:47ZengAl-Khwarizmi College of Engineering – University of BaghdadAl-Khawarizmi Engineering Journal1818-11712312-07892025-06-0121210.22153/kej.2025.03.001Biodiesel Production from Castor OilNadya Hussin AL Sbani0Awatif Meelad1Omar sultan2Alaa Mohammed3Amani Kwadikha4Saleh Tweib5Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Oil, Gas, Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Zawia, LibyaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Oil, Gas, Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Zawia, LibyaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Oil, Gas, Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Zawia, LibyaBiochemical Engineering Department, Al-Khwarizmi College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, 47024, Iraq Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Oil, Gas, Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Zawia, LibyaChemical and Process Engineering, Zawai Higher Institute of Science and Technology, Al-Zawia 16418, Libya Biodiesel is becoming one of the most attractive alternative biofuels for petroleum-based diesel fuels. The castor plant is one of the abundant non-edible oils found in many countries. This paper aims to study Libyan castor oil and its potential for diesel conversion. Experiments were carried out in the laboratories of the Specific Center for Training in the Oil Industries in Al-Zawiya. The oil was extracted using a Soxhlet extractor and n-hexane solvent at 60 °C. Transesterification reactions were conducted in a batch reactor (a three-neck flask was used, where the middle opening carries a reflux condensation unit) at 65 °C. The methanol-to-castor oil molar ratio was 6:1, with a catalyst concentration of 1 wt.% relative to the castor oil, and the reaction time was 30 min. Castor oil was analysed and found to have a fatty acid content of 0.7%. The productivity of biodiesel exhibited 80% yield. Standard test methods of analysis were conducted to determine the biodiesel’s properties. Results indicated that the kinematic viscosity at 40 °C was 14.24 cSt, the density was 0.924 g/cm3, the cetane number (CN) was 54 and the pour point was −15 °C, indicating that castor oil biodiesel is of high quality, with a high CN and a low pour point. https://alkej.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/alkej/article/view/1014Biodiesel; Castor oil; Alkaline transesterification; Renewable energy; and non-edible oil. |
| spellingShingle | Nadya Hussin AL Sbani Awatif Meelad Omar sultan Alaa Mohammed Amani Kwadikha Saleh Tweib Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil Al-Khawarizmi Engineering Journal Biodiesel; Castor oil; Alkaline transesterification; Renewable energy; and non-edible oil. |
| title | Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil |
| title_full | Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil |
| title_fullStr | Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil |
| title_short | Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil |
| title_sort | biodiesel production from castor oil |
| topic | Biodiesel; Castor oil; Alkaline transesterification; Renewable energy; and non-edible oil. |
| url | https://alkej.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/alkej/article/view/1014 |
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