Insight into Possibility of Producing Biokerosene From Jatropha Curcas Plant in Nigeria

Abstract

In this research project, a non-edible vegetable oil was produced from jatropha curcas seed through chemical extraction method using the soxlet apparatus as a substitute fuel for kerosene lamps and its usability was investigated as pure oil and as a blend with ethanol. Biodiesel produced from jatropha oil was analyzed, from the analysis, properties such as free fatty acid content, acid value, pour point, viscosity @ 400C, density, specific gravity etc. where determined. The oil had 14% free fatty acid content, density of 920.4Â 3), specific gravity of 0.92. Bio-kerosene production in this project attempted two methods which are; distillation of the biodiesel and blending of the biodiesel with ethanol to raise the cetane number to that close to the cetane number of fossil kerosene. Distillation of the biodiesel using the distillation apparatus to remove the light end of the biodiesel to produce a lighter liquid with low flash and boiling point compare to the biodiesel. The distillation temperature used was about 1750C-3250C, this is the boiling temperature range for fossil kerosene. The second approach focused on blending biodiesel with ethanol, with aim to improve the cetane number. Ethanol was blended with biodiesel at different percentage; E5B95 (5% ethanol, 95% biodiesel), E20B80 (20% methanol, 80% biodiesel), E50B50 (50% methanol,50% biodiesel), E70B30(70% methanol, 30% biodiesel). Each sample was analyzed for its physicochemical properties and compared with that of fossil kerosene.