Potential of Virginia-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as feedstock for biodiesel production

• Peanut oil can be a potential feedstock to biodiesel production.
• Biodiesel from peanut oil was prepared by ethylic route in despite of methylic way.
• Produced biodiesel presented physicochemical properties in accordance with standards.

Oil from Virginia-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was investigated as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. After harvest and peanut trituration, the oil was obtained by solvent extraction. The biodiesel production was carried out by chemical transesterification using bioethanol and potassium ethoxide as catalyst at 65 °C in a stirred glass reactor at 200 rpm during two hours. The formed biodiesel was purified to remove glycerol and other residuals and the reaction reached 100% conversion as verified by 1H NMR. The properties of peanut oil ethyl ester produced were characterized and found in agreement with the international ASTM D 6751 and EN 14214 standards (specific gravity = 877.1 kg/m3, kinematic viscosity = 5.06 mm2/s, iodine value = 81.75 ± 0.03, cetane number = 58.9 ± 4.1, acid number = 0.21 mg KOH/g and oxidative stability = 4.54 h). These results suggest a good quality of produced biodiesel and thus, peanut oil can be considered as a feasible feedstock for biodiesel production.

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