Evaluation of Biodiesel Blending of Cocos Nucifera Oil Methyl Ester Produced from Alkaline-Catalyzed Transesterification Reaction

The prospect of using cocos nucifera Oil for production of biodiesel via transesterification reaction was investigated. The use of ethanol for the transesterification reaction instead of methanol was also evaluated. Test quantities of biodiesel were produced using 100 g, 20.0% and 0.8% of cocos nucifera Oil, ethanol and potassium hydroxide catalyst respectively at 50 °C reaction temperature and 2 h reaction time. The catalyzed transesterification reaction produced biodiesel yield of 10.4%. In order to produce alternative fuel, the biodiesel produced from the cocos nucifera Oil was subsequently blended with petroleum diesel and the blended properties characterized by ASTM standard fuel tests. The property of the blended alternative fuel was determined by comparing cloud point and pour point of the biodiesel blend.