Chemical composition and thermal properties of methyl and ethyl esters prepared from Aleurites moluccanus (L.) Willd (Euphorbiaceae) nut oil

•Esters production from non-edible oils.•Raw materials for production of biodiesel.•Thermal analysis of oils and esters, in different atmospheres (inert and oxidant).•Point of crystallization and importance esters for use as biodiesel.

In this work, the Aleurites moluccanus oil was obtained in high yield from the almonds (42%). The methyl and ethyl esters obtained by transesterification of the oil, have a high content of fatty acid unsaturated esters (>89%). Thermal properties in inert and oxidative atmospheres of oils and esters of A. moluccanus seed oil were estimated using Thermogravimetry − Derivative Thermogravimetry (TG/DTG). Low temperature properties of the methyl and ethyl esters were investigated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). From the experiments was found that A. moluccanus seeds oil was thermally stable up to 210.9 °C; the methanol biodiesel is stable up to 117.9 °C and the ethanol biodiesel is up to 122.0 °C in air. In nitrogen atmosphere the A. moluccanus seeds oil was thermally stable up to 291.2 °C; the methanol biodiesel up to 119.0 °C and the ethanol biodiesel up to 123.3 °C. The esters have satisfactory performance at low temperatures with respect to the point of crystallization, which were below −11 °C. The results showed that A. moluccanus found in Brazil can contribute as a non-edible raw material for the production of biodiesel.