ABSTRACT

The development of a sustainable alternative source of renewable energy has been the greatest global challenge of the century. With the growing population and subsequent increasing demand for energy especially in Nigeria, coupled with the under-developed electrical energy platforms and the vast problems of the convectional energy sources vis-à-vis the continuous gas flaring, its enormous energy crisis needs to be contained and alternative energy resource considered hence, biodiesel development is seen  as an important alternative bio-fuel since is economically viable, cheap, clean and green in contrast to conventional fossil fuels. This is due to its environmental benefits and simple industrial production from renewable energy resources. Consequently the attempt to determine the long storage oxidation stability of biodiesels produced from three feed stocks were examined and the quality of the biodiesels and their blends  (B100, B10, B20, B30 and D100) as developed comparatively  studied and analyzed. The biodiesels were produced from neem seed oil (NSO), palm kernel seed oil (PKSO) and Castor bean seed oil (CBSO) through transesterification reaction. The bio-oil were transestrified using sodium hydroxide as catalyst at methanol/sample molar ratio of 6:1, 60mins time, 60ºC temperature and agitation speed of 250rpm  The physio-chemical properties of the three blends were measured to ascertain their adherence with the ASTM standard for biodiesel. The results showed a moderate percentage yield from most of the feedstock. Viscosity obtained at temperature of 40ºC, indicated that the highest value of 4.09mm²/sec was from B100 of neem biodiesel and the lowest value of 3.72mm²/sec was from B100 of castor biodiesel. The B100 castor biodiesel had the highest value (9.7hrs) of oxidation stability at 110 ºC while neem had the lowest value at 6.5hrs.  Overall, other values for oxidation stability, density, acid value, flash point, API gravity, anisidine point and cetane index all conformed to the ASTM standard range.