Passiflora edulis seed oil methyl ester as a potential source of biodiesel

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of literature on biodiesel as a feasible source of renewable energy. Compared to fossil energy, biodiesel is environmentally friendlier which makes it a viable option. This study set out with the aim of assessing the use of Passiflora edulis seed oil (purple passion fruit) obtained from an industrial fruit juice processing waste. The oil was evaluated as a good potential feedstock for production of biodiesel. In this study Passiflora edulis seed oil was transesterified using methanol and potassium hydroxide. A biodiesel yield of 80 % was obtained. The methyl ester had a viscosity of 4.60 mm²/s, acid value 0.45 mgKOH/g, density 0.89 g/ml, colour 1.60, water content 0.04 %, copper strip corrosion-No tarnish, and flash point > 150 ⁰C. The fuel parameters measured were within range according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and International Standards Organization (ISO) standards. The current findings add substantially to our understanding of biodiesel and it sources.

Keywords: Transesterification, Passiflora edulis seed oil, Methanol, Biodiesel, Methyl ester