Physiochemical and Electrical Properties of Refined Luffa (Luffa Cylindrica) Seed Oil as Bio-Transformer Oil

Abstract

Researchers have attested that oils of ester are biodegradable and environmentally friendly when compared to petroleum transformer lubrication and insulation oils. These benefits inspired us to explore the possibility of using refined luffa cylindrica seed oil (RLSO) as substitute source for transformer oil. To authenticate its suitability, it is imperative to make a comparism of electrical and physicochemical properties with transformer mineral oil (TMO) and ASTM standard specification. In this work the oil of Luffa cylindrica was extracted giving a yield of 31.13% and the extracted oil undergone having undergone a two-step acid-based transesterification process using first acid pretreatment and Alkaline Transesterification. The produced RLSO and TMO were analyzed for electrical and physiochemical properties utilizing standard procedures. The properties measured are pH, boiling point, density at 29.5°C, specific gravity at 25°C, viscosity at 27°C, free fatty acid, acid value, iodine value, peroxide value, saponification value, others are flash point, cloud point, pour point, breakdown voltage and relative permittivity dielectric constant at 25℃. Most of the results obtained shows that RLSO compares relatively well with TMO and the values also meeting the ASTM standard specification for bio-transformer oils. Hence refined Luffa cylindrica oil can be used substitute to conventional transformer oil since it met most of the ASTM standard specifications.