RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NEEM BIODIESEL AND BIODIESEL/PETRODISEL BLEND

ABSTRACT
Effect of temperature on viscosity and density changes on neem biodiesel and neem biodiesel-blend has been investigated.  Neem oil was sourced from neem (Azadirachta indica) seed, which was extracted using soxhlet apparatus and was converted to biodiesel using transterification method. The fuel properties of the resultant biodiesel such as viscosity, density, cetane number, cloud and pour points, flash point, were measured. At varying temperature range of 25-100OC, changes in viscosity and density were evaluated for petrodiesel, neem biodiesel and biodiesel blend of B20 – B100. The results of the petrodiesel sample were used as a control. It was observed that at 25oC the viscosity of the blended oil were 3.8mm2/s for B20, and 6.1mm2/s for B100 while at 100OC, the viscosity of the blended oil were 0.6mm2/s for B20  and 2.1mm2/s for B100. The density of the blended oil at 25oC for B20 were 855kg/m2 and 849kg/m3 for B100 at 100oC. From the result obtained, it shows that as the temperature increases, the viscosity and density of the blended oil decreases at the same rate with that of petrodiesel sample. Therefore, the viscosity of the B80 of the blended oil is similar to that of petrodiesel. The result indicates that neem oil is a potential feedstock for biodiesel production.   



TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page         =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    i
Certification Page     =    =    =    =    =    =    =    ii
Dedication         =    =    =    =    =    =    =    iii
Acknowledgement         =    =    =    =    =    =    iv
Abstract         =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    v

CHAPTER ONE
1.0    Introduction    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    1
1.1    Background of the Study         =    =    =    =    3
1.2    Scope and Objectives    =    =    =    =    =    7
1.3    Research Aim         =    =    =    =    =    =    7
1.4    Significance of the Research    =    =    =    =    7
1.5    Research Background    =    =    =    =    =    8
CHAPTER TWO
2.0    Literature Review    =    =    =    =    =    =    9
2.1    Historical Development of Biodiesel      =    =    =    9
2.2    Methods of Producing Biodiesel        =    =    =    10
2.2.1    Pyrolysis    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    10
2.2.2    Micro-Emulsification        =    =    =    =    =    12
2.2.3     Transesterification        =    =    =    =    =    13
2.3    Getting to Know Neem        =    =    =    =    16
2.4    Main Factors Affecting The Transesterification Reaction    18
2.4.1 Molar Ratio of Methanol to Oil    =    =    =    =    18
2.4.2     Temperature and Reaction Time    =    =    =    19
2.4.3 Mixing Condition    =    =    =    =    =    =    20
2.4.4    Free Fatty Acid and Moisture    =    =    =    =    20
2.4.5    Catalyst Concentration    =    =    =    =    =    21
2.4.6    Catalyst Options    =    =    =    =    =    =    21
2.5    Sponification in Biodiesel Production    =    =    24
2.6    Properties of Bioidiesel Fuels    =    =    =    =    24
2.7    Physical Properties of Biodiesel Fuels    =    =    25
2.8    Higher Combustion Efficiency of Biodiesel fuel     =    30
2.9    Water Content in Biodiesel    =    =    =    =    31
2.10    Advantage of Biodiesels        =    =    =    =    31
2.10.1 Availability and Renewability of Biodiesel    =    31
2.10.2 Lower Emissions of Biodiesel        =    =    =    32
2.11    Disadvantages of Biodiesel as Diesel Fuel        =    34
2.12    Thermal Degradation of Fatty Acids During    
Biodiesel Production        =    =    =    =    =    36
2.13    The Biodiesel Economy    =    =    =    =    =    36

CHAPTER THREE
3.1 Materials and Method     =    =    =    =    =    40
3.1.2     Soxhlet Extractor         =    =    =    =    =    41
3.1.3     Water Bath     =    =    =    =    =    =    =    42
3.1.4     Blender     =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    42
 3.1.5 Separating Funnel    =    =    =    =    =    =    42
3.1.6     Magnetic Stirrer Hot Plate     =    =    =    =    42
3.1.7     Electronic Weighing Balance    =    =    =    =    43
3.1.8      Thermometer        =    =    =    =    =    =    43
3.1.9      Titration Set-Up    =    =    =    =    =    =    43
3.1.10 Conical Flask, Beaker, Round-Bottomed Flasks     43
3.1.11  Refractometer    =    =    =    =    =    =    43
3.1.12  Viscometer     =    =    =    =    =    =    =    43
3.1.13  Specific Gravity Bottle     =    =    =    =    =    44
3.2 Pre-Processing Procedure For The Neem Seed Oil
 Production.    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    44
3.2.1 Oil Extraction Procedure    =    =    =    =    =    44
3.2.2  Degumming    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    45
3.2.3  Neutralization        =    =    =    =    =    =    46
3.2.4  Dehydration    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    46
3.3     Determination of Physico-Chemical Properties on
Neem Oil    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    47
3.3.1 Determination of Acid Value     =    =    =    47
3.3.2     Determination of Saponification Value    =    48
3.3.3  Determination of Specific Gravity         =    =    49
 3.3.4 Determination of Iodine Value        =    =    49
3.3.5  Determination of Peroxide Value     =    =    50
3.3.6  Determination of Kinematic Viscosity     =    51
3.3.6  Determination of Pour Point     =    =    =    52
3.3.7 Determination of Flash Point    =    =    53
3.3.8 Determination of The Fire Point     =    =    53
3.3.8 Determination of Cloud Point     =    =    =    53
3.4     Biodiesel Production     =    =    =    =    54
3.5     Determination of Fuel Properties of Neem
Biodiesel    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    55
3.5.1 Determination of Kinematic Viscousity     =    56
3.5.2 Determination of Pour Point     =    =    =    57
3.5.3 Determination of Flash Point        =    =    57
3.5.4 Determination of the Fire Point     =    =    58
3.5.5 Determination of Cloud Point     =    =    =    58
3.6     Rheological Properties Study    =    =    =    59

CHAPTER FOUR
4.0     Results and Discussions    =    =    =    =    =    60
4.1     Results    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    60
4.2     Biodiesel Prosperities     =    =    =    =    =    66
4.3    Rheological Studies on the Biodiesel/Petrodiesel
Blends    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    66

CHAPTER FIVE
Conclusions and Recommendations    =    =    =    =    71
Recommendations    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    72
References            =    =    =    =    =    =    73
Appendices    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    75