Vegetable oils – raw materials for producing biodiesel

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study of the physical and chemical properties of samples of vegetable oils (sunflower, rapeseed, olive). It has been shown that the viscosity of oils varies from 41.4 to 61.7 cSt at a temperature of 40 ° C for olive and sunflower oils, respectively. The acid numbers of the oil samples were also determined, it was found that the lowest indicator is characteristic of sunflower oil. Pour points of oils also range from -3 to -16 ° C for olive and sunflower oils, respectively. Using the method of IR spectroscopy, functional groups in the composition of samples of vegetable oils were studied and it was shown that the composition of oils contains carbonyl and hydroxyl functional groups, indicating the presence of carboxylic acids. Based on studies of the physical and chemical properties of vegetable oils, it was found that sunflower, olive and rapeseed oils can serve as raw materials for the synthesis of biofuels based on them, since they contain free fatty acids. To obtain biodiesel fuel based on vegetable oils, it is planned to use the transesterification method in the presence of various catalysts (alkaline, acidic, and complex).