화학공학소재연구정보센터
Energy Sources Part A-recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects, Vol.32, No.5, 419-425, 2010
Production and Characterization of Bio-fuel from Coconut Oil
The biggest challenge for developing countries in relation to energy consumption is to develop and implement technologies that help reduce the emissions of gases and particulate matter (dust and smoke), which have both local and possible global environmental impacts. In order to be more environmentally conscious, we need to endeavor to use resources that preferentially create fewer pollutants as by-products. But what is beyond a doubt is that, in the long term, we are going to rely on renewable energy sources, such as bio-fuel, solar, and hydrogen; also, climatic changes will force us to switch to carbon dioxide-free technologies and renewable energy sources. Consequently, this work focuses on the production of liquid bio-fuel produced from coconut oil. Analytical determinations of some properties of bio-fuel were carried out to confirm the quality and purity as well as the identification of bio-fuel. The properties that bio-fuel have been tested for are kinematic viscosity at 40 and 100 degrees C, specific gravity at 27 and 15 degrees C, pour point, sulpur content, flash point, heat of vaporization, heat of combustion, and distillation characteristics. The results obtained are kinematic viscosity of 18.179 cp at 40 degrees C and 5.5605 at 100 degrees C, specific gravity of 0.912 and 0.92 at 101.325 kPa and 27 and 15 degrees C, respectively, the pour point is -5 degrees C, flash point of the bio-fuel produced is 62.5 degrees C at 101.3 kPa and the sulphur content is 0.072%. Heat of vaporization of the bio-fuel is 2,300.45 kJ/kg while the heat of combustion is 24,563.62 kJ/kg. The percentage total recovery of 98.5% by volume, 0.7% by volume of residue, and 0.8% by volume loss were made. These experimental values are relatively close to diesel fuel specification.