Data on the use of virgin coconut oil and bioethanol produced from sugar palm sap as raw materials for biodiesel synthesis

Abstract

These data describe the use of virgin oil from coconuts (Cocos nucifera) and bioethanol from the sap of sugar palms (Arenga pinnata) as raw materials for biodiesel synthesis. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) was produced using mechanical techniques and was fermented without heating, while bioethanol was obtained from the distillation/redistillation of sugar palm sap (SPS), which was fermented spontaneously. Biodiesel was obtained by refluxing VCO and SPS bioethanol with a potassium hydroxide (KOH) transesterification catalyst for 3 hours. The results of the reaction were tested by determining the physical and chemical properties as well as by identifying the main components of biodiesel by spectroscopy. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) chromatogram data and spectrum identification results show that ethanol from the distillation/redistillation of spontaneously fermented SPS can be used as a reagent in biodiesel synthesis. Keywords: Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Sugar palm, Sap, Transesterification, Virgin coconut oil