Effects of Oil Extraction Methods on Bio-diesel Production from Wild Grape Seeds: A Case Study of Soxhlet Extraction and Mechanical Press Engine Driven Expeller Methods

Abstract

In this research, two samples of wild grape seeds (Lannea Microcarpa) were used to produce biodiesel. The first sample was washed; dried and powdered, oil was extracted from the sample using soxhlet extraction method with n-hexane as solvent. The second sample was washed and dried, oil was extracted from the sample using mechanical press engine driven expeller. The oil yield from the first method was 33.3% while the oil yield from the second sample was initially 12.5% with very high free fatty acid (FFA), and then later increased to 37.5% after the FFA was reduced using acid esterification reactions on the sample. The FFA of the first sample was 5.11% while that of the later was 42% but reduced to 2.54 after a repeated trans-esterification reaction. The mechanical press method was better in terms of production process, production time and the oil yield and hence suitable for industrial applications.

Keywords: Bio-diesel, mechanical press, soxhlet extraction, wild grape seeds

Cite this Article

M. U. Kaisan, G. Y. Pam, D. M. Kulla, et al. Effects of Oil Extraction Methods on Bio-diesel Production from Wild Grape Seeds: A Case Study of Soxhlet Extraction and Mechanical Press Engine Driven Expeller Methods. Journal of Alternate Energy Sources and Technologies. 2015; 6(1): 35–40p.