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Titre : Production and Optimization of Biodiesel from Neem (Azadirachta indica) Seed Oil using the Base Catalyzed Transesterification

Auteur : Anas Mohammed Mohammednour, Mohammed

Université de soutenance : University of Gezira

Grade : Master of Science (MS) In Chemical Engineering 2021

Résumé
Biodiesel is gaining more importance as an attractive fuel due to the depleting and shortage of fossil fuel resources. The many global environmental considerations are demanding a renewable and friendly energy. Biodiesel produced from edible oil has raised some issues such as food versus fuel and many other problems have negatively affected their economic feasibility. The use of non-edible oils may significantly reduce the cost of biodiesel. This study investigated the biodiesel production from Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed oil, by optimization and determination of physicochemical properties of Neem seed oil and biodiesel. The four main fatty acids of Neem seed oil are Oleic acid (C18:1) 37.70% , Palmitic acid (C16:0) 21.53 %, Stearic acid (C18:0) 19.59 %, and Linoleic acid (C18:2) 13.03 %. Biodiesel was produced from low free fatty acids (0.73%) Neem seed oil, thus, one-step alkali based catalyzed transesterification was carried out. A 92.8 w/w% biodiesel was obtained at optimum conditions (6:1 methanol to oil ratio, 65 ºC reaction temperature, 400 rpm stirring speed, 0.5 w/w % NaOH, for one hour). Some physicochemical properties of the Neem seed oil were determined : the oil content was 26%, moisture content was 0.05 %, refractive index was 1.4714, peroxide value was 2.82 meq/kg, iodine value was 96 gI2/100g, the saponification value was 199 mg KOH/g oil and the unsaponifable matter was 1.35 %. The properties of biodiesel were also studied, density was 0.8877 g/cm, kinematic viscosity at 40 ºC was 5.43 mm2/s, acid value was 0.46, calorific value was 44.91MJ/kg, flash point was 166 ºC, pour point was -12 ºC, zero ash content besides water and sediment, and cetane number was 51.3. The results agreed with the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) standard D6751. The findings of this study are highly reliable and show that Neem seed oil is attractive as feedstock and has potential for biodiesel production. Therefore, the study recommends the exploration of non-edible oils significantly reduces the cost of biodiesel.

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