BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM AVOCADO PEELS

Abstract

The depletion and environmental problems associated with fossil fuels as main energy source motivates to look for alternative energy sources that is renewable and environmentally friendly. Biodiesel is an alternative energy source that is produced from biomass. It is renewable, sustainable, and non-toxic type of energy fuel. The main objective of this project was biodiesel production from avocado peels. Avocado peel oil was first extracted to produce biodiesel. For this, particle size of 0.25 mm-0.5 mm, solvent type hexane and time 3 hrs. were used for Soxhlet extraction and 35.5% of oil yield was obtained. A trans esterification production method was selected and used to produce biodiesel from avocado peel oil using methanol and NaOH as a catalyst. To produce biodiesel, 66.15 g of sample avocado peel oil, 19.78 g of methanol and 5 g of NaOH were used in trans esterification process. A maximum of 56.81 g of pure biodiesel was obtained. The physiochemical properties (density, pH, API, specific gravity, acid value and FFA) of the produced biodiesel were determined. It was found that all the physicochemical properties are within the standards. From the produced biodiesel it was concluded that the produced biodiesel is an important alternative fuel and it possesses properties like renewability, non toxicity, biodegradability and environmentally friendly. It is recommended that further studies should be done on the physicochemical properties and factories that affect the yield of biodiesel. Biodiesel produced from avocado peel oil is economically feasible. The economic feasibility of this project was tested by using feasibility test. The study showed that, a total capital need to install the plant is $1,039,903.77/year and its pay back and return on investment are 2.31 year and 32% respectively.