Thermodynamic Studies on BInary Blends of Palm and Melon Oils in Production of Biodiesel

Environmental pollutions, energy problems and other uncertainties associated with the use of fossil fuel are some reasons which constitute the quest for eco-compatible fuel substitutes. Vegetable oils (VOs) are known raw materials that will remedy the situation. Palm oil (PO) and melon oil (MO) were extracted and blended in various proportions PO:MO (0:100, 10:90, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 80:20, 100:0) for biodiesel (BDS) production through the process of trans esterification using a catalyst (sodium hydroxide, NaOH). Viscosities of the blends decrease as temperature increases. Experimental information was applied to Grunberg-Nissan (d-)parameter; the range of PO50: MO50 blend (-10.629 to -8.030) showed the least negative d-parameter values at all temperatures (283K to 323K) and viscosity deviations at various temperatures range between -20 to 21. Thermodynamic studies were carried out on the blends; the randomness of the system and negligible effect of inter- and intra- bonding energies of the system were defined by the increasing negative values of Gibbs free energy of mixing (ΔGM) and zero enthalpies of mixing (ΔHM = 0). Energies of the produced BDS increase as calorific values of the blends increase (36 - 49 MJ/k) with an increase in the fractions of MO, and cloud point ranges from -1 to 0oC. The biodiesel properties were found to be comparable to the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) standard.