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A Two-Step Transesterification of Citrullus lanatus Seed Oil

AASCIT Journal of Chemistry
Vol.6 , No. 1, Publication Date: Jul. 5, 2020, Page: 7-13

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Authors

[1]	Gloria Ihuoma Ndukwe, Department of Chemistry, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
[2]	Anselem Tochukwu Ugboaja, Department of Chemistry, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
[3]	Nkiru Aghaeze, Department of Chemistry, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Abstract

This paper presents the transesterification of seed oil from Citrullus lanatus (Thunberg) Matsumura & Nakai also known as watermelon; while examining the potential of C. lanatus as an alternative feedstock in the production of biodiesel which has become one of the mitigating sources to cushion the depleting nature as well as the environmental effects of combustible petrol fuel. Maceration method was used for the extraction of oil while physicochemical parameters were determined using standard procedures. Biodiesel was synthesized via two-step acid-base catalyzed transesterification while gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and Fourier transform-infra red were used for the characterization of biodiesel. Physicochemical analyses carried out on the synthesized biodiesel showed that C. lanatus seed has the potential to serve as an alternative feedstock. The flash points of 115°C and 118°C of the synthesized biodiesels were comparable to American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) and European Committee for Standardization (EN 14214: 2008) standards; though kinematic viscosity measurements (7.99 and 7.98 mm²/s) showed biodiesel products of relatively high viscosity which has the tendency to leave deposits on combustion. Spectroscopic analyses indicated successful transesterification with 80-85% biodiesel yield. The seeds of Citrullus lanatus which are considered as waste products can serve as alternative feedstock for biodiesel.

Keywords

Citrullus lanatus, Watermelon, Transesterification, Biodiesel, Ethyl oleate, Ethyl palmitate

Reference

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