Investigating “Egusi” ( Citrullus Colocynthis L.) Seed Oil as Potential Biodiesel Feedstock

Solomon Giwa, Luqman Chuah Abdullah and Nor Mariah Adam
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Solomon Giwa: Alternative and Renewable Energy Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA)/Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang Darul Ehsan, Selangor, Malaysia
Luqman Chuah Abdullah: Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang Darul Ehsan, Selangor, Malaysia
Nor Mariah Adam: Alternative and Renewable Energy Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA)/Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang Darul Ehsan, Selangor, Malaysia

Energies, 2010, vol. 3, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Biodiesel’s acceptance as a substitute for fossil-derived diesel has grown the world over. However, the food-fuel debate over conventional vegetable oils has rekindled research interest in exploring lesser known and minor oil crops. In this work, egusi melon seed oil was studied for the first time as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. Crude egusi melon seed oil was transesterified using sodium methoxide as the catalyst at 60 °C and an oil/methanol ratio of 1:6 to produce its corresponding methyl esters. Egusi melon oil methyl ester (EMOME) yield was 82%. Gas chromatographic analysis of EMOME showed that it was composed mainly of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic esters, which is similar to the profile of sunflower, soybean and safflower oil. All the measured fuel properties of EMOME satisfied both the ASTM D6751 and the EN 14214 biodiesel standards. Fuel properties of EMOME were essentially identical with those of soybean, safflower and sunflower biodiesel. Remarkably, the kinematic viscosity of EMOME was measured to be 3.83 mm 2 /s, a value lower than most biodiesel fuels reported in the literature. The potential of egusi melon seed oil as a biodiesel feedstock is clearly presented in this study.

Keywords: biodiesel; fuel properties; egusi; melon seed oil; crude oil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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