Prospect of Moringa seed oil as a sustainable biodiesel fuel in Australia : a review

Moringa oleifera is one of the most widely cultivated crops in tropical and sub-tropical areas in the world. The common name is drumstick which contains 6 to10 seeds. The matured seeds yield 38 - 40% of colourless and odorless vegetable oil. The oil contains concentrated oleic acid which has the potential to be used as a biodiesel. The study reviewed the prospect of moringa oleifera seed oil as a source of alternative transport fuel in Australia. The distributions, habitat, growth, production, oil extraction and biodiesel conversion techniques are briefly discussed. The literatures available on engine performance test and emission studies are also summarized for better understanding of the prospect of the moringa oleifera as a sustainable and alternative source of transport fuel. A review of the literatures indicates that moringa oleifera oil could be one of the prospective sources of biodiesel in Australia. Further studies are recommended on issues such as engine combustion characteristics, emission parameters, environmental impact and economic analysis of the species before it can be considered for commercial application.