Transesterification of Camellia japonica and Vemicia fordii seed oils on alkali catalysts for biodiesel production

Camellia japonica and Vernicia fordii seed oils were employed as a feedstock for production of biodiesel by transesterification with methanol on alkali catalysts. The composition and physicochemical properties were investigated in the raw seed oils and the biodiesel products. The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) contents in the biodiesel produced from the seed oils were above 96% on KOH catalyst in the reaction. It was acceptable for the limit of European biodiesel qualities for BD100. Other qualities such as cetane number, acid value, density, and kinematic viscosity, of the produced biodiesels also matched the biodiesel qualities. (C) 2010 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.