Letter to the Editor
Investigation of physical and chemical properties of potential edible and non-edible feedstocks for biodiesel production, a comparative analysis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.01.027Get rights and content

Abstract

Recently, non-edible vegetable oils have been considered as prospective feedstocks for biodiesel production. This is mainly attributed to their ability to overcome the problems of food versus fuel crisis related to edible oils. Globally, there are more than 350 oil-bearing crops identified as potential sources for biodiesel production. The evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of non-edible feedstocks is very important to assess their viability for future biodiesel production. Therefore, this paper aims to study the properties of some potential non-edible feedstocks. Moreover, the paper studies the physical and chemical properties of these promising crops and compares them with other edible oils. These oils include: crude Calophyllum inophyllum L. (CCIO), Jatropha curcas L. (CJCO), Sterculia foetida L. (CSFO), Croton megalocarpus L. (CCMO), Moringa oleifera L. (CMOO), patchouli (CPO), coconut (CCO), palm (CPaO), canola (CCaO), soybean (CSO) and Pangim edule (CPEO) oils. 14 Different properties have been determined and presented in this study.

Introduction

The shrinking supply of fossil fuels and the growing environmental concerns have made renewable energy an extraordinarily attractive alternative energy source for the future [1]. Biodiesel is a promising alternative fuel for diesel engines. Biodiesel is renewable, biodegradable non-toxic, portable, readily available and eco-friendly fuel [2].

Globally, there are more than 350 oil-bearing crops identified as potential sources for biodiesel production [3], [4], [5], [6]. Recently, non-edible vegetable oils or second generation feedstocks have been considered as prospective feedstocks for biodiesel production. This is mostly attributed to their ability to overcome the problems of food versus fuel crisis related to biodiesel production from edible oils such as palm oil and sunflower. Moreover, they are easily available in many parts of the world especially wastelands that are not suitable for food crops, reduce deforestation rate, more efficient, more environmentally friendly, produce useful by-products and they are very economical comparable to edible oils [4], [5], [7].

Some examples of non-edible oilseed crops that are available worldwide are Jatropha curcas L., Calophyllum inophyllum L., Sterculia foetida L., Madhuca indica, Pongamia pinnata, Hevea brasiliensis, Eruca sativa L., Melia azedarach, Terminalia catappa, Cerbera odollam, Croton megalocarpus, Terminalia bellerica Roxb., Azadirachta indica, Rice bran and Microalgae [1], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24].

The initial evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of non-edible feedstocks is very important to assess their viability for future biodiesel production. Therefore, this paper aims to review the properties of some potential non-edible feedstocks. Moreover, the paper studies the physical and chemical properties of these promising crops and compares them with other edible oils. These oils include: crude Calophyllum inophyllum L. (CCIO), Jatropha curcas L. (CJCO), Sterculia foetida L. (CSFO), Croton megalocarpus L. (CCMO), Moringa oleifera L. (CMOO), patchouli (CPO), coconut (CCO), palm (CPaO), canola (CCaO) and soybean (CSO) oils. 14 Different properties have been determined and presented in this study.

Section snippets

Oil content of some promising biodiesel feedstocks

To consider any feedstock as a biodiesel source, the oil percentage and the yield per hectare are important parameters. Table 1 shows the estimated oil content and yields of different biodiesel feedstocks [5].

Influence of feedstock characteristics on biodiesel production

The feedstock characteristics such as FFA and fatty acid composition influence the biodiesel production process selection and final properties of biodiesel. Moreover, feedstocks with high MIU and titer require extra processing steps like filtration, centrifuging and heating [25].

Calophyllum inophyllum L.

Materials

The seeds of Calophyllum inophyllum L., Jatropha curcas L., Sterculia foetida L. and Pangium edule were purchased from the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia (Bogor, Java, Indonesia). The extraction of crude Calophyllum inophyllum L. (CCIO), Jatropha curcas L. (CJCO) and Sterculia foetida L. (CSFO) oils was done using a screw extruder machine. However, to increase the yield from crude Calophyllum inophyllum L. oil (CCIO), hydraulic manual pressing machine was repeated several

Physical and chemical properties of CCIO, CJCO, CSFO, CMOO, CCMO, CCO, CCaO, CSO, CPO, CPaO and CPEO

Table 3 shows the main findings of physical and chemical properties of crude CCIO, CJCO, CSFO, CMOO, CCMO, CCO, CCaO, CSO, CPO, CPaO and CPEO oils based on a comparison with some existing available literature. The differences in the results obtained in this study and of those presented in the literature are mostly attributed to the origin from which the oil was obtained. The next sections will discuss some of main the finding of this study.

Conclusion

This paper aims to review some of the potential non-edible feedstocks. In this paper the physical and chemical properties of some promising non-edible feedstocks were determined and compared with other edible oils. These oils include; crude Calophyllum inophyllum L. (CCIO), Jatropha curcas L. (CJCO), Sterculia foetida L. (CSFO), Croton megalocarpus L. (CCMO), Moringa oleifera L. (CMOO), patchouli (CPO), coconut (CCO), palm (CPaO), canola (CCaO), soybean (CSO) and Pangium edule (CPEO) oils. 14

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia and The University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the financial support under UM.C/HIR/MOHE/ENG/06 (D000006-16001). The author would like also to thank Mr Lim Fung Jong and the staff of Inscience Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) for their valuable support.

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