Description

Abstract
Comparative study of biodiesel from kernel oils of jatropha curcas and azadiracta indica were carried out in the production of biodiesel. The seeds of the two plants were collected in August- October of the year for the study. Biodiesel has attracted immense attention in recent time due to its environmental benefits and the fact that it is made from renewable resources such as vegetable oil of plant origin. Evaluated results showed that Jatropha curcas seeds contain 52.70±2.91% (dry w/w) crude oil and Azadirachta indica seeds 32.50±2.60% (dry w/w) crude oil respectively. The physiochemical properties of the biodiesel produced from these oils showed that jatropha biodiesel has low FFA (0.21±0.02%), acid value (0.41±0.02%), specific gravity (0.8867±0.01g/cm3), viscosity (3.73±0.21mm2/s), saponification value (45.85±0.29mg/g), iodine value (53.33±4.62mg/g) and peroxide value (0.32±0.04meq/l) while neem biodiesel has FFA (0.28±0.03%),acid value (0.56±0.05%), specific gravity (0.8831±0.04g/cm3), viscosity (4.40±0.20mm2/s), saponification value (53.54±2.95mg/g), iodine value (47.18±1.17mg/g) andperoxide value (0.43±0.07meq/l). Although when both biodiesels were compared with ASTM and EN standard values, jatropha biodiesel however was of higher quality.

Keywords: Jatropha curcas,Azadiracta indica,Transesterification, biodiesel