FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONAL GROUPS IN BIODIESEL PRODUCED FROM OILS OF RICINUS COMMUNIS, HEVEA BRASILIENSIS AND JATROPHA CURCAS SEEDS

Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) was used to evaluate the possible functional groups present in biodiesel. It is an easy way to identify the presence of functional groups in the sample and its structure based on the energies associated with the molecular vibration when irradiated. In these work three samples; ricinus communis, Hevea brasiliensis and Jatropha curcas oils were run through FTIR, the bonds as well as functional groups present are found to respond differently to the incoming radiation, due to variation in their molecular vibration of stretching and bending. The response of the functional groups are characterized by observing the transmission of infrared radiations and comparing it with known standards in order to identify the type and the nature of functional groups present in the samples. The presence and the nature of functional groups among other factors provide information on the stability of the biodiesel fuel. This paper is thus designed to evaluate the functional groups and structure in order to establish the reactivity of these fuels as a function of possible degradation.