GCMS and FTIR Spectroscopy Characterization of Luffa Cylindrica Seed Oil and Biodiesel Produced from the oil

Abstract

The need for replacement of fossil fuel with more efficient fuels that are eco-friendly and renewable (biodiesel) was the basis for the present study. Luffa cylindrica seed oil (LCSO) was extracted through solvent extraction using petroleum ether as a solvent between 60 and 80 C The produced oil was used for the production of biodiesel (LCBD) via two-stage transesterification.
 The percentage yield of the extracted oil and biodiesel were 17.3 and 18.8 % respectively. The physico-chemical properties were within ASTM recommended values, indicating a quality fuel production. GC-MS chromatograms of LCSO and LCBD indicated the presence of acridine,9-anilino acid, 11-octadecanoic acid, (methyl ester), methyl stearate and benz (a) anthracene, 6,7,12-trimethyl, 15-octadecanoic acid, methyl ester, methyl stearate, eicosanoic acid, serine methyl ester, and N-[2-oxo-4-phenylbutyryl]. Also, IR spectroscopy analyses of LCSO and LCBD revealed the presence of O-H, C-H, C=O, O-C, =C-H and C-N in LCSO and N-H, O-H, C-H, C=O, C-O, C-N, =C-H stretches in LCBD. The study drew results and findings and concluded that Luffa cylindrica
seed oil is an excellent feed stock for the production of biodiesel.