Biodiesel Production from Neem Seed (Azadirachta indica) Oil Using Calcium Oxide as Heterogeneous Catalyst

Abstract

Biofuel is an alternative and environment friendly source of energy, originated by the use of fossil fuels and have led to a notable growing demand from the last few decades. As biodiesel are usually acquired from renewable sources like vegetable and animal oils, for example coconut oil is extracted from the coconut and then characterized for further usage. The aim of this study is to investigate the production of biodiesel from neem oil and to characterize the parameters that affect biodiesel performance. The Biodiesel was produced using trans-esterification process resulting in the values of saponification 191 mg KOH/g, iodine 10 mgl2/g, acid 14.0 mg KOH/g, density 0.91 g, viscosity 23 mm2/s and flash point 266°C. The biodiesel was also characterized and showed that the it has density of 820 kg/m3, viscosity 3.5 mm2/s, saponification value 91 mg KOH/g, iodine value 8.9 mgl2/g, acid content 30.8 mg KOH/g and flash point 110°C. The physicochemical properties obtained were also compared to standard biodiesel in the range of ASTM specifications.