An experimental study of 2nd generation biodiesel as an alternative fuel for diesel engine

This study investigated the prospects of using 2nd generation biodiesel as an alternative fuel particularly the biodiesel produced from the Australian Beauty Leaf (BL) (Calophyllum inophyllum L.). Firstly, the study developed an optimised oil extraction method from BL kernel based on the kernel size and treatment conditions (for example, seed preparation and cracking, drying, whole kernel, grated kernel and moisture content). Mechanical method of using a screw press expeller and chemical method of using n-hexane were used for oil extraction. The results indicated that the grated kernels that were dried to 14.4% moisture content produced the highest oil yield from both methods. The highest oil recovery of 54% was obtained in n-hexane method from the grated kernel followed by 45% in screw press method. A comparison of fossil energy ratio (FER) (the ratio of energy produced from the biodiesel to the energy required for processing of the feedstocks) was made between n-hexane and screw press methods and the results revealed that the FER in-hexane method was 4.1 compared to 3.7 in screw press method, indicating that the n-hexane method is more efficient than the screw press technique. It should also be noted that the oil content of BL kernel was about 60% on dry weight basis.