Abstract
The oil cake from argan, an available raw material in Morocco, was explored for biodiesel production. The residual lipids of roasted and unroasted argan cakes were transesterified under alkaline conditions. The best biodiesel yield (94%) was obtained after transesterification of residual lipids from roasted argan cake using a methanol:lipid ratio of 6:1 with 0.6 g of KOH per g of oil at 65 °C. Physicochemical characteristics of the oils and biodiesels, such as density, acid number, iodine, saponification and calorific value, were determined. These measured values were similar to those found with standard biodiesel and petro-diesel. Fatty acid compositions of the residual lipids and biodiesels were determined via gas chromatography, revealing 85% unsaturated fatty acid, mainly represented by oleic and linoleic acids, in these two products.
Author contributions
Conceptualization: JZ, CD, AG, PM, CEM; methodology: JZ, CD, AG, DD; supervision: CD, AG, PM; writing – original draft: JZ, CD, AG, PM; writing – review and editing: JZ, CD, AG, PM, CEM. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Disclosure statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.