Abstract

Biodiesel is considered as one of the alternative environmental benign fuel. It production encountered many problems such as low energy balance and food verses fuels competition. To resolve some of these problems, in-situ transesterification of Datura metel seed oil was carried out with 1:1 methanol to n-hexane co-solvent and calcium oxide derived from snail shell as catalyst at 65 ℃ temperature for 3 hours in soxhlet extraction apparatus. This research work produce biodiesel yield of 91% with higher heating value close to petro-diesel and cetane number higher than the minimum standard set by ASTM. The iodine value which is lower than the upper limit set by EN 14214 specification. The density of Datura metel seed oil biodiesel is within ASTM Specification but it record high acid value. GC-MS results revealed that methy-11-octadecenoate, methyl hexadecanoate and methyl octadecanoate are major fatty acid esters of Datura metel seed oil biodiesel. This research revealed that Datura metel seed oil are potential non edible feedstock for biodiesel production.