Biodiesel Production from Neem (Azadirachtaindica) Seed Oil

Abstract

Biodiesel was produced from non-edible neem seeds. Due to its high FFA content, a two step acid-basetransesterification approach was applied using H₂SO₄ – NaOH.  In the first approach (esterification), H₂SO₄ was applied to reduce acid level to <1mgKOH/g while the followup step involved direct conversion to fatty acid methyl ester using 1% NaOH as catalyst. The results revealed optimum conditions of biodiesel at 1% NaOH catalyst amount, 60^oC reaction temperature, 1:6 oil to methanol molar ratio and 70 min reaction time for the two step acid – basetransesterification method. These optimum parameters produced a maximum biodiesel yield of 92.0%.

The fuel properties of the biodiesel produced compared favorably with recommendations by the American Standard Testing Method (ASTM D6751), European Standard and Ghana Standard Authority