Influence of seed particle sizes on extraction and reactive extraction for biodiesel production from cotton and palm kernel seeds

In this study, cotton and palm kernel seeds have been used to produce biodiesel by reactive extraction in which the biodiesel is produced directly from the particle seeds. This method is influenced by many parameters which include the seeds particle sizes. Hence, the effects of particles sizes on oil content, extraction efficiency of reactive reaction and biodiesel conversion have been investigated to determine the highest percentage of biodiesel production. These parameters were studied in the size range of 0.5-7 mm for cotton seeds and 4-15 mm for palm kernel seeds. It was determined that the smallest particle sizes (0.5-1 mm) for cotton seeds resulted in the highest oil extracted as well as high percentage on the extraction efficiency. Meanwhile for palm kernel seeds, the smallest particles sizes resulted to the highest oil extracted which is 58% within 24 hours reaction time. At the same particle sizes and reaction period, the extraction efficiency in extraction of FAME yield 90%. For biodiesel conversion, both particle size of palm kernel seeds (1-4 mm and 10-15 mm) have converted to 30% and 25% of FAME, respectively. On the other hand, the effect of particle sizes on percentage conversion for cotton seeds (0.5-1 mm and 4-7 mm) are 9% and 6 %, respectively. It can be concluded that an increased in particle sizes resulted to a decreased in percentage of oil content, extraction efficiency and biodiesel conversion, as smaller particle size will have larger surface area that assisted both extraction and reaction.