Process optimization study on the feedstock derived from Cerbera odollam seeds

Biodiesel, made from inedible oils, presents an intriguing eco-friendly option for diesel engines due to its comparable qualities with traditional diesel fuel, requiring no engine modifications. This work explores the possibility of using Cerbera odollam (sea mango) oil as a biodiesel feedstock. Cerbera odollam oil is readily available in many forested areas worldwide. However, before alkaline catalytic esterification, the FFA in the oil needs to be transformed into esters through catalytic acid esterification. Optimization of reaction parameters for biodiesel production, such as reaction time (2 h), reaction temperature (55 degrees C), catalyst concentration (1.2 wt%), and the molar ratio (5.5:1), has been tuned. The parameters of the biodiesel produced were comparable to typical biodiesel standards. The optimized reaction parameters significantly influenced the biodiesel yield and quality. Under optimal conditions, 94.5% of Cerbera odollam oil is converted into biodiesel. Non-edible oil from Cerbera odollam has likely to be a feasible substitute for diesel fuel in the form of biodiesel.