Optimisation of Alkaline Ethanolysis of Biodiesel Yield from Nigerian Coconut Oil using One Variable at a Time (OVAT) Approach

Abstract

In this study, coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil has been identified as a feedstock for biodiesel production. The determination of optimal feedstocks ratio (of ethanol/coconut oil, v/v. % ratio) was studied. The reaction was executed at different ethanol/ coconut oil ratios: 10%, 15% 20%, 25% and 30% while the reaction time (60 min), reaction temperature (700C) and 1.0% NaOH catalyst dosage were kept constant. The result indicated that maximum biodiesel yield (96.09%) was obtained at 20% of ethanol/coconut oil vol./vol.% ratio within transesterification reactions that were kept constant. The fuel characterization such as viscosity (4.32mm2/s), specific gravity (0.887), pour point (-180C), cloud point (-120C) and flash point (1600C) of the produced biodiesel at the optimized conditioned showed that the suitability of coconut ethylester (biodiesel) were within the international biodiesel standard.