The influence of physicochemical characteristics of a non-edible oil of yellow oleander seed on its fuel properties

In this study, oil was extracted from yellow oleander (YO) seed and the yield was found to be 64.7% . The physico-chemical parameters of the yellow oleander seed oil (YO) were assessed following the ASTM standard methods, and found to have iodine value of 75.82 and calorific value of 13.79 MJ/Kg. Other physicochemical parameters determined were acid value (1.26), peroxide value (3.0 meq/kg) and specific gravity (0.88406 g/cm 3 ). Some Fuel properties of the oil include high flash points (192 o C), kinematic viscosity (23.23 mm 2 /s) and cloud point of 14 o C. The FTIR analyses of the YO showed the carbonyl functional group of the triglycerides at 1739 cm -1  to 1745cm -1  as the most intense and prominent bands. The fatty acid composition of the oil was determined using the Gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the saturated fatty acid of yellow oleander seed oil was found to be 38.11% with palmitic acid (23.61%) and stearic acid (10.78%). The GC-MS result showed about 80% saturated/ monounsaturated fatty acids in the YO, signifying high potential for biodiesel production. Keywords: yellow oleander seed oil, biodiesel, fuel , triglyceride, saturated fatty acid