Preparation and Evaluation of Biodiesel from <i>Sterculia foetida</i> Seed Oil

Abstract

Abstract Sterculia foetida oil contains cyclopropene fatty acids namely 8,9‐methylene‐heptadec‐8‐enoic acid (malvalic) and 9,10‐methylene‐octadec‐9‐enoic acid (sterculic) to an extent of 50–55%. The present study reports the preparation of biodiesel from S. foetida oil using sodium hydroxide as catalyst. The resultant biodiesel was evaluated for physico‐chemical properties namely iodine value (72.6), free fatty acids (0.17%), phosphorous content (0 ppm), flash point (179 °C), cloud point (3 °C), pour point (3 °C), viscosity at 40 °C (4.72 cSt), oxidative stability at 110 °C (3.42 h), density (0.850 g/cm 3 at 15 °C), and trace metals (Group I metals 0.21 ppm). The properties were compared with that of sunflower, soybean and rapeseed oil‐based biodiesels and found to be comparable except for the pour point.