Determination of Optimum Temperature for the Laboratory Preparation of Biodiesel from Nigerian Palm Kernel Oil

As Nigeria envisions transition from finite fossil energy requirements to a safer, sustainable, and renewable alternative, local palm kernel oil is investigated as an alternative source of diesel fuel through potassium hydroxide catalyzed transesterification with ethanol. Three replicated experimental runs were conducted at 30°C, 37.5°C, 45°C, 52.5°C, 60°C, 65°C, and 70°C under reaction conditions of 100 g palm kernel oil, 1.0% potassium hydroxide, 20% ethanol (wt% palm kernel oil) and 90 min reaction time. Results show some palm kernel oil biodiesel properties to be within standard fuel specifications, while average palm kernel oil biodiesel yields of 59.0%, 69.0%, 77.4%, 87.5%, 95.4%, 95.4%, and 94.4% were obtained for the respective reaction temperatures. Optimal palm kernel oil biodiesel yield occurred at 60°C.