PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF BIODIESEL USING PALM KERNEL OIL AND POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE AS A CATALYST

ABSTRACT The world is facing a threat from the Green house due to the emission of fossil gases into the atmosphere which affect the greenhouse. There is a need for an alternative means of producing gases which are less or without any effect on the greenhouse. This research work is geared into the production of biodiesel using Palm Kernel Seed and Potassium Hydroxide as catalyst which is less expensive compared to the vegetable oil or animal fat biodiesel. Biodiesel is a biodegradable and non-toxic fuel, characterized by carbon dioxide emission reduction attributable to recycling by photosynthesis. Most investigations on biodiesel production have been focused on the use of vegetable oil or animal fat as feedstock in the presence of a catalyst or enzyme via transesterification process. It was observed that the biodiesel produced presents a Tint Red Color and Odorless to the sense of the smell. This is consistent with biodiesel produced from other sources. The fuel gave a density and pH of 0.881 g/cm3 and 6.53 respectively. The low moisture content of 0.03 Vol% is ideal for any fuel. Furthermore, a viscosity of 6.5152 mn2/s was recorded during measurement.