Studies on the preparation of biodiesel from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim seed oil.

To reduce the cost of biodiesel production, the feasibility of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim seed oil (ZBMSO) was studied to produce biodiesel. A methyl ester biodiesel was produced from ZBMSO using methanol, sulfuric acid, and potassium hydroxide in a two-stage process. The main variables that affect the process were investigated. The high level of free fatty acids in ZBMSO was reduced to < 1% by an acid-catalyzed (2% H2SO4) esterification with methanol to oil molar ratios of 20-25:1 for 1 h. A maximum yield of 96% of methyl esters in ZBMSO biodiesel was achieved using a 6.5:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, 0.9% KOH (percent oil), and reaction time of 0.5 h at 55 degrees C. Further investigation has also been devoted to the assessment of some important fuel properties of ZBMSO biodiesel produced under the optimized conditions according to specifications for biodiesel as fuel in diesel engines. The fuel properties of the ZBMSO biodiesel obtained are similar to those of no. 0 petroleum diesel fuel, and most of the parameters comply with the limits established by specifications for biodiesel.