Extraction and utilization of Acacia seeds oil in Biodiesel preparation

Abstract

This study was conducted on seeds of Acacia Senegal var Senegal (family leguminosae) which were collected from Elobayed in Kordufan state Sudan during the season 2014. Solvent extraction technique was utilized to extract the oil from the A. senegal seeds. The oil content of these seed was found to reach 20%w/w. The extracted oil was subjected to physicochemical evaluation, the results showed that its free fatty acid was 3.8g/l, it saponification value was 848.4ml/g, iodine value was 89.144ml/g, Esterification value was 844.6 ml/g, peroxide value was 6ml/g, its moisture content was 0.8%, density was 0.915g/cm³, refractive index 1.4628, colour was 1.5/29.04(red/yellow). The extracted oil was converted into biodiesel through transesterification reaction, and the product Biofuel was subjected to IR and GC-MS analysis. Results showed it possesses good qualities as biofuel.