Evaluation of Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R. Parker as a potential source of biodiesel

Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R. Parker (Amoora) a promising oil yielding tree has been evaluated as a potential source for biodiesel. Amoora seeds contain 40-44 % oil with 63.4 % unsaturated fatty acids and 4.62 % free fatty acids. A two stage process has been standardized and adopted for biodiesel production during the investigations. In acid pretreatment step, Amoora oil was treated with 5 % H2SO4 based on FFA and 40:1 methanol to FFA by molar ratio in order to reduce FFA content. The second stage involved methanol and NaOH for alkali catalyzed transesterification. The conditions, temperature 60 °C, methanol in molar ratio of 1:6 and 1 h reaction time found to be optimum. The maximum biodiesel yield was 96 % on volume basis. The viscosity of oil was reduced from 44.9 mm2/s to 4.67 mm2/s by transesterification. Amoora biodiesel was found to be on par with ASTM and BIS specifications.