Blend Characteristics of Biodiesel Obtained from Four Virgin Tropical Seed Oils

Four feedstocks comprising two non-edible oils (Telfairia occidentals Hook F, (TVO) and Hura crepitians L (HVO)) and two edible oils Cucumeropsis manii Naud (CSVO) and Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. (CVO) were studied for production of methyl esters (biodiesel). Base catalysis was used for the transesterification reaction with methanol at different oil/alcohol molar ratios (4:1, 6:1 and 9:1). Two catalyst types; KOH and NaOH were used. Reaction times of 5 and 30 mins; temperatures of 38 and 55 oC and a constant catalyst concentration of 1% wt/wt were employed. These process variables were used to achieve optimum biodiesel yields of 97%, (TVO and HVO); 94% and 96% (CSVO) and (CVO) respectively. Their viscosities ranged from 3.60–4.80 mm2/s and specific gravities from 0.87–0.88g/cm3. The specific gravities and viscosities of the blended biodiesel; B5, B10, B15 ranged from 0.960–0.930g/cm3 and B20, 1.620–1.650 g/cm3, the pour points ranged from -18 to -21. Water and sediments for all the blends were <= 0.05.