Utilization of Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) as a Major Raw Material for the Production of Biodiesel

Authors

  • Hossain Mohammad Imran Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000
  • Arafat H. Khan Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000
  • M. Shahinul Islam Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000
  • R.S. Niher Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000
  • Asaduzzaman Sujan Institute of Fuel Research and Development, Bangladesh Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Dhaka-1205
  • A.M. Sarwaruddin Chowdhury Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/dujs.v60i2.11506

Keywords:

Biodiesel, Karanja oil, Transesterification, Glycerin, Engine performance

Abstract

An experimental process for the production of biodiesel using karanja (Pongamia pinnata) seeds as a raw material has been studied. This process involved transesterification of karanja oil with methanol in the presence of a catalyst (NaOH), to yield biodiesel as the main product and glycerin as by-product. In this research work, free fatty acid (FFA) of Karanja oil was determined and it was found less than 5%. As a result, one step transesterification was carried out. Oil to methanol molar ratio (6:1 to 12:1), variation (0.5% to 1.6% wt of oil) of Catalyst (NaOH) concentration was determined. Base-catalyzed transesterification converted karanja oil into biodiesel and glycerol using 1% NaOH as alkaline catalyst at 60-65°C. This study revealed the maximum yield of biodiesel up to 85% with methanol to oil ratio 1:9 and for 1.5 hr reaction at 65°C. Co-ignition of biodiesel with commercial diesel was also evaluated and it was found that diesel engine run smoothly in the ratio of commercial diesel to biodiesel was 7:3.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujs.v60i2.11506

Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 60(2): 203-207, 2012 (July)

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Published

2012-08-02

How to Cite

Imran, H. M., Khan, A. H., Islam, M. S., Niher, R., Sujan, A., & Chowdhury, A. S. (2012). Utilization of Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) as a Major Raw Material for the Production of Biodiesel. Dhaka University Journal of Science, 60(2), 203–207. https://doi.org/10.3329/dujs.v60i2.11506

Issue

Vol. 60 No. 2 (2012)

Section

Articles