Optimization and characterization of acid catalyzed castor biodiesel and its blends

In terms of energy security, biodiesel has become an alternative, safe, and biodegradable fuel. Here, to produce biodiesel from castor oil, a transesterification process was carried out using an acid-catalyzed catalyst. Three blends (B10, B20 and B30) were prepared by using different proportions of castor biodiesel and petro-diesel. Biodiesel optimum yield of 80% was obtained from 5 mL of castor oil with the influence of different parameters such as 1.75 mL of methanol and 0.08 mL of conc. H2SO4, at 65 ℃, for 3 hours with 600 revolutions per minute stirring speed for 5 mL of castor oil. Physiochemical properties of all samples such as moisture contents, iodine value, free fatty acid value, saponification value, ester value, acid value, peroxide value, viscosity (at 40 ℃), specific gravity, refractive index, density, boiling point, average molecular weight, and higher heating value were determined. Castor biodiesel characterization was resulted as 0.112 (percentage), 86 mg KOH/g, 1.0878 mg KOH/g, 0.439 mg KOH/g, 84.9122 mg KOH/g, 86.32 gI2/100 g, 20.66 Meq/100 g, 0.8850 g, 17.21 cSt, 1.4667 nD, 0.8910 g, 290 ℃, 1982.05 g, and 44.479 MJ/Kg min, respectively. The functional groups were investigated by using FTIR. In the present study, it was demonstrated that biodiesel can be produced using a method of acid-catalyzed transesterification by using castor oil.