FUEL PROPERTIES OF BIODIESELS FROM VEGETABLE OIL FROM YELLOW OLEANDER ( Thevetia peruviana) SEEDS AND PORK LARD FROM PIG (SUS DOMESTICUS)

Abstract

In this study, oil was extracted from yellow oleander ( thevetia peruviana) seeds and pork lard rendered from pig (Sus domesticus) fat, and their yield determined as 64.7% and 85.4% respectively. The fuel properties of the yellow oleander seed oil (YO) and the pork lard (PL) were assessed following the ASTM standard methods, and found to have high flash points of 192 oC and 165 oC, calorific values of 13.79 MJ/Kg and 12.02 MJ/kg respectively. The GC-MS result showed about 80% saturated/ monounsaturated fatty acids in both YO and PL, signifying high potential for biodiesel production. Biodiesels were prepared from the YO and PL using the base- catalyzed transesterification method. The yield was above 96% for yellow oleander methyl ester (YOME) and 85% for pig lard methyl ester (PLME) at the optimum condition of 60oC, for 60 minutes with 1 % (wt) KOH catalyst. There was similarity in fatty acid distribution in both YOME and PLME, with Oleic acid as high as 57.84%, palmitic acid (15.56% to18.07%), stearic acid was in the range of 15.98 % to 15. 65%, which placed them as better substitutes for fossil diesel. The fuel properties obtained indicated that yellow Oleander seed oil and pork lard can be used as alternative feedstock for biodiesel production. Methyl esters of yellow Oleander seed oil and pork lard showed fuel property values close to the ASTM standards for biodiesel.