Biodiesel Synthesis by Ethanolysis of Hura crepitans Seed Oil Unfit for Consumption in Benin
Assou Sidohounde,
Guevara Nonviho,
Fifa Theomaine Diane Bothon,
Papin Sourou Montcho,
Cokou Pascal Agbangnan Dossa,
Leopold Tchiakpe,
Dominique Codjo Koko Sohounhloue
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2019
Pages:
50-57
Received:
11 September 2019
Accepted:
7 October 2019
Published:
20 October 2019
Abstract: To reduce fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gases, biomass energy is in high demand. Hura crepitans (HC) is a widely distributed plant species in Benin. But its seed oils are reputed to be purgative and unfit for consumption. So, we collected the seeds of HC in Agame (South of Benin). They were extracted and the seed oils have been converted into biodiesel. First, the quality indices (acid, peroxide, iodine and saponification) were determined. Then, elementary physicochemical parameters and fuel properties of the extracted oil have been highlighted according to standardised methods. Transesterification parameters of the seed oils (alcohol/oil and catalyst/oil ratios, temperature and yield) were also studied. The fatty acids of vegetable oil and the characteristics of its obtained biodiesel were finally identified. It appears that HC seeds have a lipid potential of 52.54%. Its oil is unsaturated and dominated by linoleic acid (54.13%). The yield of the transesterification reaction is 81.47%. The fuel parameters of the obtained biodiesel are: acidity (0.41%); density at 26°C (0.887); cetane number (54.44) compared to those of HC seed oils: acidity (4.81%), density at 26°C (0.929) and cetane number (44.53). The biodiesel obtained by transesterification with potash has much better parameters that comply with biodiesel standards. These results suggest that biodiesel of HC could be proposed to power Diesel engines without a preheating system.
Abstract: To reduce fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gases, biomass energy is in high demand. Hura crepitans (HC) is a widely distributed plant species in Benin. But its seed oils are reputed to be purgative and unfit for consumption. So, we collected the seeds of HC in Agame (South of Benin). They were extracted and the seed oils have been converted in...
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On the Problem of Gypsum Deposition in the Dead Sea in the Case of Two Seas Canal Construction
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2019
Pages:
58-65
Received:
9 October 2019
Accepted:
29 October 2019
Published:
8 November 2019
Abstract: The Dead Sea is a terminal lake, being the lowest and one of the most saline lakes on earth. For more than last fifty years the water level of the Dead Sea drastically decreased resulting in a drop of more than 30 m since beginning of sixties of the last century. The present level and size of the Dead Sea and its development are determined by a negative water balance between precipitation, runoff and evaporation. One of the possible ways to stop reducing the surface level of the Dead See and even to reverse this process, it is to supply seawater by connecting the Dead Sea with a world ocean system. The first and the most suitable choice discussed from the seventies of the last century was a canal connecting the Dead Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. However, due to geopolitical situation in this region the project of Dead Sea - Mediterranean Sea canal was abandoned, and another two seas canal variant has been studying for the last several decades, namely a canal between the Dead Sea and the Rea Sea via the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba. The problems attracting the wide public attention for this canal construction are the ecological effects of mixing the waters of the Dead Sea and seawater from the Red Sea if the canal between these two seas will be built. There are some fears that under certain conditions, a layer of gypsum crystals floating on the Dead Sea surface will be formed causing some undesirable ecological effects in local environment. In the present article the rates of the deposition of gypsum crystals in the mixtures of the Dead Sea water with seawater were estimated by using the experimental viscosity and density values of these waters mixtures. The results of these calculations allowed us to assume that there is no danger that gypsum crystals, which can be formed under certain conditions during mixing of Dead Sea and seawater, will float on the Dead Sea water surface forever and after a relatively short period of time, depending on the dimensions of the crystals, gypsum crystals will sink to the bottom.
Abstract: The Dead Sea is a terminal lake, being the lowest and one of the most saline lakes on earth. For more than last fifty years the water level of the Dead Sea drastically decreased resulting in a drop of more than 30 m since beginning of sixties of the last century. The present level and size of the Dead Sea and its development are determined by a neg...
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