Author(s): Umeuzuegbu JC, Arokeshi IA and Onukwuli OD

Abstract: The need for renewable, sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources has directed researchers into harnessing energy from biomass. Bio-fuels, the energy sources derived from biomass comprise principally of biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas are now preferred alternative to fossil fuel. This research work focused on a single step methanolysis of sesame seed oil using cheap, locally sourced, calcined cement clinker catalyst. Sesame seed oil was solvent extracted using n-hexane. The physiochemical properties of the sesame seed oil {SSO) was characterized base on American Standards for Testing Materials (ASTM) method. The fatty acid profile and the functional groups of the oil were respectively determined using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy. The effect of process parameters, methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction time and temperature and agitation speed on sesame seed oil fatty acid methyl ester (SSOFAME) or biodiesel yield were determined based on one factor at a time method. The fuel properties of the SSOFAME produced were obtained based on ASTM standards. The physiochemical properties of SSO were obtained as density 890 kg/m3, saponification value 191.4 mgKOH/g, iodine value 86.5 gI2/100 g, peroxide value 2.01 mEq/kg, kinematic viscosity 32.5 mm2/s, fire point 187.1 oC, flash point 200 oC, cloud point 2.0 oC, pour point 0.5 oC, refractive index 1.465, specific gravity 0.890, moisture content 2.86%, acid value 4.3 mgKOH/g, free fatty acid 2.15%, calorific value 20.5 MJ/kg. The optimum process parameters for obtaining the highest biodiesel yield of 87% were methanol to oil molar ratio 7:1, catalyst concentration 1.0 wt%, reaction temperature 60 OC, reaction time 60minutes, and agitation speed 300rpm. Results show the fuel properties to be density 850 kg/m3, kinematic viscosity 4.72 mm2/s, cetane number 58.8, flash point 170 OC, cloud point 2.5 OC, water content 0.05%, acid value 0.25 mgKOH/g, calorific value 38.5 MJ/kg, iodine value 86.4 gI2/100 g, pour point o.5 OC, specific gravity 0.85, free fatty acid 0.13%, refractive index 1.466. The various data obtained for transformation of SSO to SSOFAME points to the fact that the biodiesel is ostensibly suitable alternative to diesel fuel.

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