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Title: Preparation of Biodiesel by Methanolysis of Crude Moringa Oleifera Oil

Author
item RASHID, UMER - PAKISTAN UNIV OF AGRIC
item ANWAR, FAROOQ - PAKISTAN UNIV OF AGRIC
item Moser, Bryan
item Knothe, Gerhard

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2008
Publication Date: 5/18/2008
Citation: Rashid, U., Anwar, F., Moser, B.R., Knothe, G.H. 2008. Preparation of Biodiesel by Methanolysis of Crude Moringa Oleifera Oil [abstract]. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 80.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biodiesel was prepared from the unconventional crude oil of Moringa oleifera by transesterification with methanol and alkali catalyst. Moringa oleifera oil is reported for the first time as potential feedstock for biodiesel. Moringa oleifera oil contains a high amount of oleic acid (>70%) with saturated fatty acids comprising most of the residual profile. After acid pre-treatment to reduce the acid value of the Moringa oleifera oil, biodiesel was obtained at 6:1 molar ratio of oil to methanol, 60 EC, 1.00% (w/w) sodium methoxide catalyst, and 600 rpm agitation intensity. Fuel properties such as kinematic viscosity, cetane number, cloud point, oxidative stability, and lubricity of the biodiesel derived from Moringa oleifera oil compared well with ASTM D 6751 and EN 14214 specifications. Biodiesel from Moringa oleifera oil exhibited a high cetane number of approximately 67, one of the highest found for a biodiesel fuel. The production of biodiesel from native Moringa oleifera oil may simultaneously reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and help alleviate the food versus fuel problem that affects rapeseed, soybean, palm, and other oilseed crops that are also traditional food sources.