Acid-catalyzed transesterification of Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) to biodiesel

Abstract The quest for a green and sustainable environment has triggered the diversification from fossil-based fuel to biofuel. Thus, this study examines an environmentally friendly process for developing biodiesel from agricultural feedstock, palm kernel oil (PKO) obtained from palm kernel fruits. The PKO was transesterified into biodiesel using an acid catalyst and methanol at ambient conditions to produce 98% biodiesel. The as-prepared laboratory-scale biodiesel was analyzed according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) procedure giving the following results: specific gravity of 0.8888 kg/L, kinematic viscosity of 2.304 cSt and total acid number, of 0.64 mgKOH/g. Furthermore, the flashpoint, pour point and distillation parameters of the biodiesel were 136, 9, and 204–365 °C respectively. The obtained results show that the biodiesel from PKO is of good and comparable quality to other biodiesels made from other common feedstocks, thus, PKO can be used as an alternative source of fuel for diesel engines.