Fuel properties of B100 and blends of Terminalia belerica (Roxb.) oil biodiesel synthesised using SrO as a basic heterogeneous catalyst

ABSTRACT

Terminalia belerica (Roxb.) seed oil (TBO), a non-edible feedstock with a high oil content of 32.5%, was subjected to transesterification using commercial SrO as a heterogeneous base catalyst in the presence of methanol. For qualitative and quantitative analysis of biodiesel TLC, FTIR and ¹H NMR techniques were utilised. From ¹H NMR spectra the highest conversion of triglycerides into biodiesel of 97.41% was confirmed. The absence of resonance peaks related to glyceryl content confirms not only good biodiesel conversion but also the purity of biodiesel formed. A simple experimental set-up was designed to evaluate surface tension of B100 biodiesel of TBO. The fuel properties of B100 and different blends such as B10, B20, B40, B60 and B80 were evaluated as per Bureau of Indian Standards and are reported on here. The optimal conditions evaluated are: a 1:12 methanol:oil molar ratio, reaction time 2.0 h, reaction temperature 60 °C, SrO catalyst amount 5.0 wt% and 800 rpm stirring rate.

KEYWORDS:

• Methanolysis
• strontium oxide
• Terminalia belerica
• reproducibility
• Hammet indicator

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Reva University management for their continuous support and cooperation towards research activities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.