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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bio-oils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329289
Research Project: Value-added Bio-oil Products and Processes

Location: Bio-oils Research

Title: Methyl esters (biodiesel) from Pachyrhizus erosus seed oil

Author
item Knothe, Gerhard
item RAZON, LUIS - De La Salle University
item MADULID, DOMINGO - De La Salle University
item AGOO ESPERANZA, MARIBEL - De La Salle University
item DE CASTRO, MARIA ELLENITA - De La Salle University

Submitted to: Biofuels
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2016
Publication Date: 1/12/2017
Citation: Knothe, G.H., Razon, L.F., Madulid, D.A., Agoo, E.M.G., de Castro, M.E.G. 2017. Methyl esters (biodiesel) from Pachyrhizus erosus seed oil. Biofuels. doi: 10.1080/17597269.2016.1275493.

Interpretive Summary: Biogenic alternatives to petroleum-derived products continue to attract increasing attention, including fuels such as biodiesel derived from plant oils, animal fats, used cooking oils, or feedstocks containing so-called triglycerides. In order to potentially increase the supply of such biogenic materials, new feedstocks need to be identified. This work deals with the so-called methyl esters (biodiesel) derived from a new feedstock which is known by its scientific name as Pachyrhizus erosus, and more commonly as yam bean or Mexican potato or jicama. This work shows that these methyl esters are generally well-suited for the intended use, with the only problems occurring at lower temperatures so that warmer climates are preferred.

Technical Abstract: The search for additional or alternative feedstocks is one of the major areas of interest regarding biodiesel. In this paper, the fuel properties of Pachyrhizus erosus (commonly known as yam bean or Mexican potato or jicama) seed oil methyl esters were investigated by methods prescribed in biodiesel standards and comprehensively reported. As a result of the elevated content of saturated fatty acid methyl esters, the cloud point is high, and the fatty acid methyl esters obtained from P. erosus seed oil generally met fuel property specifications in the American and European biodiesel standards, ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) D6751 and EN 14214, respectively, including a high cetane number.