Production, characterization and testing of Biodiesel from termindi belerie R. and Sapindus mukorossi G. oil seeds avaialble in North East India

Abstract

There has been an increase in research activities on biofuel in recent times due to urgent requirement for a viable alternative to conventional petroleum fuel. There are several important research issues related to biodiesel which are varied in forms amongst the different countries. In some countries, like India, identification of new feedstock addressing food-fuel conflict has been a major area of emphasis. Government of India has formulated policy for growth of biodiesel from non-edible feedstocks. Search for such new feedstock is also an important area of National Bio-Fuel Policy of the government. With the limited available land resources, forest based tree species could be one of the sustainable sources for biodiesel feedstock in India. However, target oriented research is required to ascertain such possibility. Objectives of the present study are (i) to identify some oil bearing tree seeds of Northeast India having potential for biodiesel production, (ii) to investigate the fuel properties of biodiesel produced from oils of selected species, (iii) to study the oxidation and storage stability of biodiesel obtained from oils of selected species and investigation of efficacy of some phenolic antioxidants and (iv) to investigate the engine performance and emission characteristics of CI engine fueled with biodiesel obtained from the oils of selected species. Two forest origin oilseeds of Terminalia belerica R. and Sapindus mukorossi G. trees are selected for this study. Oil content (w/w% of kernels) of Terminalia belerica and Sapindus mukorossi are found as 43% and 39%, respectively. Terminalia belerica oil composes of 39.5% saturated fatty acid and 60.5% unsaturated fatty acid. Palmitic (32.8%), oleic (31.3%) and linoleic (28.8%) acids are dominant in Terminalia belerica oil. On the other hand, Sapindus mukorossi oil composes of 16.5% saturated and 83.5% unsaturated fatty acids. Oleic (58.4%), linolenic (17.1%) and arachidic (7.5%) acids are the major constituents of Sapindus mukorossi oil. Overall, fatty acid