title: Lipase-catalysed production of biodiesel fuel from some Nigerian lauric oils.
abstract: Fatty acids esters were produced from two Nigerian lauric oils, palm kernel oil and coconut oil, by transesterification of the oils with different alcohols using PS30 lipase as a catalyst. In the conversion of palm kernel oil to alkyl esters (biodiesel), ethanol gave the highest conversion of 72%, t-butanol 62%, 1-butanol 42%, n-propanol 42% and iso-propanol 24%, while only 15% methyl ester was observed with methanol. With coconut oil, 1-butanol and iso-butanol achieved 40% conversion, 1-propanol 16% and ethanol 35%, while only traces of methyl esters were observed using methanol. Studies on some fuel properties of palm kernel oil and its biodiesel showed that palm kernel oil had a viscosity of 32.40 mm2/s, a cloud point of 28 degrees C and a pour point of 22 degrees C, while its biodiesel fuel had a viscosity of 9.33 mm2/s, a cloud point of 12 degrees C and a pour point of 8 degrees C. Coconut oil had a viscosity of 28.58 mm(2)/s, a cloud point of 27 degrees C and a pour point of 20 degrees C, while its biodiesel fuel had a viscosity of 7.34 mm2/s, a cloud point of 5 degrees C and a pour point of -8 degrees C. Some of the fuel properties compared favourably with international biodiesel specifications.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Regional Research Center, USDA, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, USA. rdabigor@benin.nipost.com.ng
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Abigor
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Uadia
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Foglia
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okpefa
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Obibuzor
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bafor
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D002384:Catalysis; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004952:Esters; D005742:Gasoline; D007850:Lauric Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D009549:Nigeria; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D004952:Esters; D005742:Gasoline; D007850:Lauric Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; C030358:lauric acid; D000073878:Palm Oil; D008049:Lipase; D000074263:Coconut Oil