Generation of Biodiesel and Biolubricant from Non-edible Seed Sesbania bispinosa (Dhaincha)

Abstract

Production of biodiesel and biolubricant from non-edible oils have become most useful due to its ecofriendly behavior. Seeds of Sesbania bispinosa plant are non-edible with low viscosity, less fatty acid percent and several other properties which is why they were compared with other biodiesel. Present work was based on the synthesis of biodiesel from Sesbania bispinosa oil and further its conversion to biolubricant through transesterification and epoxidation respectively. Different techniques were used for observing production, fuel quality of biodiesel and biolubricant like GC-MS, TLC, 1H NMR. To produce biodiesel from oil, methanol was used as acyl acceptor with molar ratio of 1:32 oil to methanol and H2SO4 (5% w/w) was used as a catalyst. Dhaincha oil based methyl esters (biodiesel) was obtained with yield of 87.7 % after 5 h of reaction at 70 ̊C. The product was further subjected to epoxidation using mCPBA and peroxy acetic acid of 1:3 and 1:8 molar ratios respectively for methyl esters respectively for 7h and 8h. Major fatty acids present in methyl ester were detected by GC-MS analysis. Methyl ester and epoxide formation were confirmed by 1H NMR. Yield of epoxides were further quantified by deriving a equation based on integration values of 1H NMR.