ISSN: 1304-7191 | E-ISSN: 1304-7205
Estimation of pork lard biodiesel properties from its fatty acid methyl ester profile by GC-MS
1Department of Chemical Engineering, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA
2Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Emene-Enugu, NIGERIA
3Department of Chemical Engineering, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA
Sigma J Eng Nat Sci 2017; 35(3): 457-469
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Abstract

The estimation of some fuel properties of pork lard biodiesel from its fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) composition was investigated. Pork lard biodiesel was produced via transesterification of pork lard and methanol using potassium hydroxide catalyst. The biodiesel was characterized to determine the physicochemical properties according to American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM) methods. The FAME
composition of the produced biodiesel was analyzed with Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The values of the fuel properties from the laboratory test using ASTM methods were correlated with that
obtained from their calculation from the fatty acid methyl profile and an average absolute deviation (AAD) of 4.61, 3.96, 3.10, and 0.78% for iodine value, saponification value, cetane number and higher heating value,
respectively were recorded. Methyl oleate (C18H34O2) was found to be the dominant ester with percentage composition of 42.6%. The estimated values from FAME profile were found to be very close to the experimental values from ASTM method, hence rigorous laboratory experiments could be mitigated thereby saving cost, time and energy.