Biodiesel Synthesis by Ethanolysis of <i>Hura crepitans</i> Seed Oil Unfit for Consumption in Benin

Abstract

To reduce fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gases, biomass energy is in high demand. Hura crepitans (HC) is a widely distributed plant species in Benin. But its seed oils are reputed to be purgative and unfit for consumption. So, we collected the seeds of HC in Agame (South of Benin). They were extracted and the seed oils have been converted into biodiesel. First, the quality indices (acid, peroxide, iodine and saponification) were determined. Then, elementary physicochemical parameters and fuel properties of the extracted oil have been highlighted according to standardised methods. Transesterification parameters of the seed oils (alcohol/oil and catalyst/oil ratios, temperature and yield) were also studied. The fatty acids of vegetable oil and the characteristics of its obtained biodiesel were finally identified. It appears that HC seeds have a lipid potential of 52.54%. Its oil is unsaturated and dominated by linoleic acid (54.13%). The yield of the transesterification reaction is 81.47%. The fuel parameters of the obtained biodiesel are: acidity (0.41%); density at 26°C (0.887); cetane number (54.44) compared to those of HC seed oils: acidity (4.81%), density at 26°C (0.929) and cetane number (44.53). The biodiesel obtained by transesterification with potash has much better parameters that comply with biodiesel standards. These results suggest that biodiesel of HC could be proposed to power Diesel engines without a preheating system.

Assessment of Physicochemical and Fatty Acids Composition of Crude Seed Oil Extract of Azadirachta indica Adr. Juss. for its potential in Biodiesel Production

“…The acid value (AV) of 2.49±0.12mgKOH/g obtained from the crude seed oil extract of Azadirachta indica was higher than the 0.6(EN) standard value reported by Sidohounde et al (2018). Other researchers have reported AVs of 6.171-6.520 mgKOH/g, 7.09 mgKOH/g and 36.2 mgKOH/g from neem (Ungo-kore et al, 2019), Hura crepitans (Ottih et al, 2015) and Jatropha curcas (Umaru and Aberuagba, 2012), respectively.…”

“…The crude seed oil extract of Azadirachta indica gave a cetane number (CN) of 56.91±2.19, higher than the 51.0 EN standard value (Adewuyi et al, 2014) and 45.62 of Hura crepitans (Ottih et al, (2015). Previous works have indicated varying CN values of 50.0 for Heavea brassilensis biodiesel, (Krishnakumar et al, 2013), 52.85 for Ceiba pentandra (Montcho et al, 2018), 53.0 for neem diesel, (Banik et al, 2018), 59.01-60.47 for Cyperus esculentus (Sidohounde et al, 2018). According to Aligrot (1994), the ability of any fuel to ignite is a measure of its CN.…”

“…Several non-edible plant seed oils are being investigated to assess their suitability based on physico-chemical, fatty acids and other biodiesel properties. These include oils from Jatropha (Umaru and Aberuagba, 2012), Sclerocarya birrea (Ejilah et al, 2012), Hevea brasiliensis (Krishnakumar et al, 2013), Balanites aegyptiaca (Ogala et al, 2018), Hura crepitans (Sidohounde et al, 2019). The Neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), an evergreen member of the Meliaceae (Mahogany) family and native of India, grows in the tropical and sub tropical Africa (Abubakar, 2016).…”

Assessment of Biodiesel Fuel Potentials of Seed Crude Oil Extracts of Balanites aegyptiaaca (L.) Del

“…The relative percentage abundance (RPA) of these fatty acids were in the order of 67.17% (9,12-Octadecanoic acid (C19 H3402)) > 16.22% (Pentadecanoic acid (C17H3402)) > 11.89% (Heptacosanoic acid (C28H5602)) > 4.72% (Oleic acid(C18H3402))( Table 3). (Sidohounde et al, 2019).Sclerocarya birrea (Marula) (Ejilah et al, 2012) and Ceiba pentandra (Montcho et al, 2018). According to Montcho et al (2018), the cetane index measures a fuel ability to ignite itself (Aligrot, 1994).…”

Nutritional Potential of Co-products of Two Species of Benin Cucurbits

“…This family of compounds, especially β-sitosterol, helps to fight cardiovascular disease by reducing intestinal cholesterol adsorption [20]. β-sitosterol is the majority sterol followed by stigmasterol ( Table 3).…”