Kinetic Modeling, Transesterification Optimization, and Engine Performance of Biodiesel Sourced from Calophyllum inophyllum Oil

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2014 | pp. 1–8

DOI: 10.46882/2014/IJC/000064

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Kinetic Modeling, Transesterification Optimization, and Engine Performance of Biodiesel Sourced from Calophyllum inophyllum Oil

Names of Authors: M. C. Okonkwo¹, T. H. Nguyen²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Industrial Chemistry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.
²Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Abstract: The utilization of non-edible seed oils as chemical feedstocks for biodiesel synthesis mitigates the food-versus-fuel conflict while presenting a sustainable replacement for petroleum diesel. This study investigates the transesterification optimization and kinetic modeling of biodiesel production from crude Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil. Due to an elevated initial free fatty acid content (5.42 mg KOH/g), a two-step acid-base catalyzed transesterification route was deployed. The first step reduced the acid value below 1.0 mg KOH/g using 1% v/v sulfuric acid in methanol, followed by a base-catalyzed transesterification with sodium methoxide. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield was optimized at 96.5% using a 6:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, a catalyst concentration of 1.2 wt%, and a reaction temperature of 60°C for 60 minutes. Kinetic analysis established that the transesterification process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with an activation energy of 38.4 kJ/mol. Fuel properties of the optimized biodiesel, including kinematic viscosity (4.15 mm²/s at 40°C), flash point (158°C), and cetane number (52), matched ASTM D6751 regulatory specifications. Diesel engine tests using a B20 blend showed a 12.5% reduction in carbon monoxide emissions compared to conventional diesel.

Keywords: Calophyllum inophyllum; Biodiesel; Transesterification; Reaction kinetics; Activation energy; Emission profiles

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 10, 2013; Revised: May 02, 2013; Accepted: June 15, 2013; Published: January 05, 2014.

Citation: Okonkwo, M. C., & Nguyen, T. H. (2014). Kinetic Modeling, Transesterification Optimization, and Engine Performance of Biodiesel Sourced from Calophyllum inophyllum Oil. International Journal of Chemistry, 5(1), 1–8.

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