Valorization of co-products generated by argan oil extraction process: application to biodiesel production

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.

Keywords:

• Argania spinosa
• argan cake
• transesterification
• biodiesel
• biorefinery

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.

Additional information

Funding

This project was financially supported by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation; and the French Institute of Rabat (PHC TOUBKAL 20/94, French–Morocco bilateral program) [Grant Number 43678RH].