Potential application of Terminalia catappa L. and Carapa guianensis oils for biofuel production: Physical-chemical properties of neat vegetable oils, their methyl-esters and bio-oils (hydrocarbons)

• Two perennial tree species were studied as raw material for biofuel production.
• Oils were obtained from Terminalia catappa L. (TC) and Carapa guianensis (CG).
• TC and CG oils were used to produce bio-oil and biodiesel.
• Physical-chemical properties are in acceptable range for biodiesel.
• The bio-oils obtained showed good potential to produce renewable fuel.

In this work, two different perennial tree species were studied as triacylglyceride sources for producing biofuels. These species grow wild in the Amazon and along the Brazilian coast and may be a good solution for oil production that does not rely on food sources or fossil fuels while encouraging preservation of the rain forest and seashore vegetation. Consequently, we studied the oils obtained from Terminalia catappa L. (TC) and Carapa guianensis (CG) to evaluate their characteristics and chemical composition. Furthermore, we produced biofuels from these oils and analyzed their physical-chemical properties. The physical-chemical properties of the TC and CG biodiesels make them acceptable for use in diesel engines showing a promising economic exploitation of these raw materials. The bio-oils obtained from TC and CG were not completely deoxygenated; however, their physical-chemical properties demonstrated the potential of these oils as acceptable renewable fuels for diesel engines.