Extraction and Characterization of Biodiesel from Papaya Fibre

Abstract

The rising demand for renewable energy sources has prompted significant interest in biofuels. Biodiesel derived from renewable feedstock such as vegetables oils (both edible and non-edible) and animal fats, stands as a pivotal endeavour in the pursuits of sustainable energy solutions, it offers great environmental and economic advantages over conventional fossil fuel (diesel). In the production of biodiesel, oils is first extracted from the source and then transformed into biodiesel by trans-esterification. This paper seeks to extract and characterize biodiesels obtained from papaya fiber wastes sources. The method employs involved sourcing of the biomass, extraction of oil from the wastes using Soxhlet extractor, characterization of the oils, and production of biodiesel and its characterization. The results show that, oil extracted had the following characteristics; free fatty acid, peroxides value, acid value, saponification number, density, specific gravity, viscosity and iodine value of 2.29 mg/g, 8mol/kg, 4.58mgKOH/g, 78.54, 940kg/m3, 0.731, 0.56mm2/s and 121.1 respectively. An average of 37.7% of biodiesel was realized. The characterization of the biodiesel results indicated that the biodiesel had the following characteristics: 103°C, -5°C, 32J/kg, 3°C, 1.38 mg/g, 124.6, 92.56, 2.67mgKOH/g, 25.90, 0.43 mm2/s, 0.216 and 880kg/m3 for flash point, pour point, calorific value, cloud point, free fatty acid, iodine value, saponification number, acid value, cetane number, viscosity, specific gravity and density respectively. Some of the characteristics of the biodiesel compared well with that of diesel and in the range of ASTM specifications while others don’t. The study conclude that papaya fibre oil is an ideal feedstock for biodiesel production due to its minimal fuel properties, which can be easily modified and improve for diesel engine application.