Production and analysis of biodiesel from mango seed kernels and tamarind seeds using hybrid approach of solvent extraction and transesterification

Abstract

• Investigates the potential of producing biodiesel from mango seed kernel and tamarind seed. • Initially, vegetable oils were extracted solvent extraction of from mango seed kernel and tamarind seeds. • The vegetable oil recovery from mango seed kernel and tamarind seed was 13.8‥ and 17.3‥, respectively. • The transesterification of extracted vegetable oils yielded about 75 - 80‥ biodiesel • This approach offers a promising to conversion biodiesels from food waste. In light of increasing energy demands and depleting fossil fuels, there is a growing need to explore alternative energy sources. As researchers emphasize harnessing energy from industrial and residential waste, the primary objective of this study was to produce biodiesel from mango seed kernel and tamarind seed which are basically biomass waste. The study also aimed to examine the physico-chemical properties of the produced biodiesel and compare them with conventional diesel and standard biodiesel to evaluate its viability as an alternative fuel. Initially, solvent extraction process was employed for extracting vegetable oil from mango seed kernel and tamarind seed using hexane in a 1:2 ratio and agitating at temperatures ranging from 25 – 50°C for 3 – 12 hours. The extracted oil was then converted into biodiesel through transesterification, using methanol at a molar ratio of 6:1(methanol to oil) and potassium hydroxide as a catalyst with the reaction conducted at 60°C for 1 – 1.5 hours. The vegetable oil recovery from mango seed kernel and tamarind seed was 13.8% and 17.3%, respectively. The transesterification process yielded about 75 – 80% biodiesel from the extracted vegetable oils. The physico-chemical characteristics of the biodiesel derived from mango seed kernel and tamarind seed exhibited a density of 0.7788 g/cm³ and 0.8011 g/cm³, a cetane number of 48.8 and 70.4, kinematic viscosity of 1.74 cSt and 2.02 cSt, a calorific value of 22 MJ/kg and 29 MJ/kg, and a flash point of 70°C and 53°C, respectively. These properties are comparable to conventional diesel fuel and meet the biodiesel ASTM D6751 standard. The FTIR analysis of the produced biodiesel showed that aliphatic, aromatic, alcohols, esters, and carboxylic acids were the main compounds. Despite challenges, this approach offers a promising alternative to conventional fuels, mitigating food waste-versus-fuel conflicts and contributing to sustainable energy solutions.

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