Biodiesel from coconut oil

A Hewlett Packard model 5890 gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer may be used to obtain the GC-MS spectra of the biodiesel samples. Use a 30-meter Rtx-5 (Fused Silica) column (0.25 mm ID, 0.25 micron film). Set the inlet temperature at 250°C and the detector temperature at 280°C. The detection solvent delay is 3.3 minutes. The oven program has an initial temperature of 80°C (initial time 3 minutes) and a final temperature of 280°C (final time 3 minutes) with a rate of 20.0°C/ minute. The sample is prepared by adding one drop of biodiesel to 4 mL of methanol and a 1.0 /xL sample is injected. The GC-MS spectrum for biodiesel from coconut oil has several well-resolved peaks, whereas the spectra for biodiesel from other oils usually include overlapping peaks. 

Follow the procedure in Experiment 27A (Biodiesel from Coconut Oil), except use a different oil than coconut. Any of the oils listed at the bottom of Table 2 in the essay "Fats and Oils" that precedes Experiment 25 can be used. It will not be necessary to heat the oil when measuring out the 10 mL of oil, as all of these oils are liquids at room temperature. 

Hossain, M.D.A., Choudhury, S.M., Rekhu, Y, Faraz, S.K., Islam, M.U.I., 2012. Biodiesel from coconut oil a renewable alternative fuel for diesel engine. World Academy Sci. Eng. Technol. 68. 

Blending petrodiesel with SME significantly increases CP and PP at relatively low blend ratios (vol% SME) in No. 1 petrodiesel fuel and jet fuel (Dunn, 2001 Dunn and Bagby, 1995). For blends in No. 2 petrodiesel, increasing blend ratio increases CP and PP linearly (R2 = 0.99 and 0.96). Blending petrodiesel with SME also increases CFPP and LTFT (Dunn and Bagby, 1995). Similar results were reported for blends with biodiesel derived from coconut oil, rapeseed oil, tallow and waste grease (see Table 1.4). 

Because the R groups may have different numbers of carbons and double bonds, biodiesel is a mixture of different molecules, all of which are methyl esters of fatty acids. Most of the R groups have 12-18 carbons arranged in straight chains. Any kind of vegetable oil can be used to make biodiesel, but the most common ones used are the oils from soybean, canola, and palm. In Experiment 27, biodiesel is made from coconut oil and other vegetable oils. 

As well as foodstuffs, coconut oil can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel fuel. Various tropical island countries are using coconut oil as a fuel source to power trucks, automobiles, and buses, and for electrical generators. Before electrical lighting became commonplace, coconut oil was used for lighting in India, and was exported under the name cochin oil. Coconut oil can be used as a skin moisturizer, as an engine lubricant and a transformer oil, and acids derived from coconut oil can be used as a herbicide. Coconut oil is used by movie theater chains to pop popcorn ... 

Cold properties of biodiesel are highly correlated to the fatty acid composition. Biodiesel with a high content of saturated fatty acids, such as that from palm oil and coconut oil, possesses poor cold flow properties. On the other hand, biodiesel with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids possesses better flow properties at lower temperatures. However, biodiesel from highly unsaturated fatty acids with more than two double bonds has combustion problems. Therefore, in some countries, the content of highly unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters in biodiesel is kept low (5). 

In this chapter, the utilization of biofuels in conventional diesel engines is considered. The use of cmde jatropha oil (CJO), degummed jatropha oil (DJO), pure plant oils (PRO), and biodiesels produced from cmde palm oil, jatropha curcas, coconut oil, kapok nut oil, and cat-fish fat in neat form (100% biodiesel) together with various blends of biodiesel with conventional diesel are described. In addition, the use of mixed biodiesel derived from different raw materials is also considered as a possible solution for improving the quality of biodiesels. 

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is believed to be indigenous to West Africa. More than 80% of the world s palm oil comes from Southeast Asia, mainly Malaysia (50%) and Indonesia. Another species, such as American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera), are also cultivated for vegetable oil. One hectare of oil palm plantation produces 4.51 of oil per year which is three times the yield of coconut and more than 10 times that of soybean. Oil palms accumulate 90% of their oil in the mesocarp of fruits (pahn oil contains mostly palmitic and oleic acid, together 80% 10% LA), and the remaining comes from seed kernels (they contain >60% of medium-chain FAs, mainly, lauric acid). Pahn oil is mostly used in food products, as well as an oleochemical feedstock and a feedstock for biodiesel production. Pahn kernel oil is a most important feedstock used in the production of detergents and other applications of medium-chain FAs. 

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