Candlenut oil-based biodiesel development as an alternative to palm oil-based biodiesel

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop candlenut oil-based biodiesel as an alternative to palm oil-based biodiesel, which has caused many problems ranging from unhealthy oil to ecological damage and environmental destruction. The B30 biodiesel was produced by the transesterification process of candlenut oil and methanol, which were mixed and heated at 60°C – 65°C on a magnetic stirrer for 30 minutes using different masses of the catalyst, KOH. The effect of catalyst mass on density, viscosity, pour point, and flash point of biodiesel was reported, with density and viscosity measured using a standard physics laboratory procedure. The pour point was determined using the ASTM D 97 method, and the flash point was measured using the Pensky-Martens Closed Cup and the ASTM D 93 method. The results showed that 90% of the data for density and viscosity met the Indonesian government's values. Pour point data (6°C, 9°C, and 12°C) and flash point data (132°C, 138.5°C, and 135.5°C) met the government’s values, namely a maximum of 18°C for pour point and a minimum of 55°C for flash point. These findings demonstrated the success of developing candlenut oil-based B30 biodiesel. The practical implication of these findings is that the opportunity to produce healthier, more environmentally and ecologically friendly biodiesel is wide open.