Production of biodiesel from Amari (Amoora Wallichii King) tree seeds using optimum process parameters and its characterization

Amari (Amoora Wallichii King) is a forest based tree from Meliaceae family which is mainly used in making timber. Amari wood also possess some medicinal activity. In this article, biodiesel production from Amari tree seed oil (ATSO) was investigated. Oil content in the seed was 42.85%. Linoleic (32.938%) and oleic acids (23.007%) were the major fatty acid constituents in ATSO with 84.617% unsaturation. The free fatty acid (FFA) in ATSO was 16%, hence, a two stage acid base transesterification was done to produce biodiesel from ATSO. Effect of reaction time, temperature, methanol and catalyst concentrations on yields from the 1st stage acid pre-treatment and 2nd stage base transesterification was evaluated. Maximum 96% yield (vol.%) from the 1st stage occurred with 0.80% (v/v) H2SO4 at an oil methanol ratio of 4:1 after 3.5 h of acid esterification. From the 2nd stage, highest biodiesel yield of 88.5% (vol.%) was obtained during base catalysed transesterification by adding 1% (w/v) NaOH and 30% (v/v) methanol with the acid pre-treated oil after 2.5 h. Characterization of ATSO fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) was done and properties were compared with Amoora and Pithraj tree seed biodiesels from same Meliaceae family. Properties were found similar and most of them conformed to the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards except water and sulphur contents with slight deviations.