Production and characterization of biodiesel from cotton oil as an alternative energy in substitution of soybean oil

Biodiesel production has currently used virgin raw materials that have a direct use for mainly food uses, as in the case of vegetable oils, mainly soybean, and may in some cases affect food safety. Raw materials such as cotton oils that are obtained from seeds, which are the residual products of productive chains, can help food security, energy and the exploration of new sources of energy of less environmental impact. The present work investigated the chemical and physical characteristics of biodiesel produced from cotton oil in comparison to soybean oil (BOA). The results show that the acidity and viscosity of the BOA are within the permissible values of ANP 03/2014, and the viscosity of the BOA product of the transesterification of soybean oil has values of 4.41 ± 0.20 mm2s -1. Finally, it can be concluded that cotton oil may be an alternative to replace soybean oil; however, the availability of raw material may play an important role. © 2018 Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology.