Effects of Transesterification Variables on the Characteristics of the Methyl Esters Obtained from Four Virgin Tropical Seed Oils in Nigeria

Four feedstock’s comprising two inedible oils (Telfaria occidentals Hook F, (TVO) and Hura crepitians L (HVO)) and two edible oils (Cucumeropsis manii (CSVO) and Canarium schweinfurthii Engl.(CVO)) which are in abundance in the locality of study were investigated for production of biodiesel (methyl esters). Base catalysis was used for the transesterification reaction with methanol. The molar ratio oil/alcohol molar (4:1 and 6:1), catalyst type (KOH and NaOH), reaction time (5min and 30 mins) and reaction temperatures (38 and 55ºC) were varied to achieve optimum yields of the biodiesel blends. The 6:1 generally showed better properties while the NaOH catalyst also showed better results. The 55ºC summarily gave a better yield than the 38ºC while the 30 mins contact time gave better results than 5 mins.