Process optimization for production of biodiesel from hazelnut oil, sunflower oil and their hybrid feedstock

The most important constituent needed for biodiesel development is the feedstock. As the availability of feedstock is limited, the possibility of using the hybrid feedstock has been explored. Biodiesel has been synthesized from hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) kernel oil, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) oil and hybrid (hazelnut and sunflower) (50:50 v/v) feedstocks. Ester yield of vegetable oil to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was found to be 97.5%, 97.3% and 97.9% for hazelnut, sunflower and hybrid feedstocks respectively. The reaction parameters were used to be 6:1 (methanol to oil) molar ratio, KOH (0.7%), at 60 ± 0.5 °C for 2 h during alkali esterification for the three feedstocks. High yield from hybrid feedstock during transesterification reaction clearly indicated that the reaction was not selective for any particular oil. The obtained results important in that in case of scarcity of feedstock both oils could be mixed as well to maintain the constant supply of the feedstock in the perspective of industrial production of biodiesel.