Optimisation and Kinetics of Rubber Seed Oil Biodiesel Production

Abstract

Due to the increasing yearn to go environment friendly, keen interest has been placed on biofuels, this leads to further studies and research in biofuels. A search for suitable vegetable/plant oil that can work just as fossil fuels and be ecofriendly was made. Hence, the study of this work investigates the production of biodiesel from non-edible Hevea brasiliensis oil. The process was catalysed by two-step acid base transesterification. Reaction parameters, such as reaction temperature and time were studied. The yield conversion of biodiesel was found to be 50.2% under the optimum conditions of 1.0 wt % NaOH and 6:1 methanol: oil molar ratio at 60°C for a reaction time of 75 min. The kinetic study was carried out at various temperatures. The conversion of triglycerides into methyl esters obeys the pseudo first-order mechanism. The reaction-rate constants and activation energies were determined. The physical and chemical characteristics of H. brasiliensis and biodiesel were determined and compared with standard value.