Production of coconut methyl ester (CME) and glycerol from coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil and the functional feasibility of CME as biofuel in diesel engine

The merit of coconut oil at nutritional, therapeutic, industrial level has provided a distinct status to coconut as an oleaginous crop. The functional property of coconut methyl ester (CME) produced from coconut oil by chemical transesterification was proved in diesel vehicle by test run directly as biofuel without any modifications in the engine and in the fuel lines. The test run showed the technical specifications torque (Nm) and power (bhp) similar to the efficiency of diesel fuel. The higher mileage of CME (22.5 km/L) than diesel fuel (16 km/L) in test runs indicates the thermal efficiency of CME during the performance of the vehicle. The physicochemical features of CME strongly support the functional similarity of CME with that of diesel as per the requirement of fuel quality. The low carbon residue, minimal acidity and the absence of sulphur elements further support the fuel energy of CME as an ecofriendly fuel.