Kerosene-Like Fuel Production from Coconut Oil and Cashew-Nut Oil - Effects of Fatty Acid Degree of Saturation and Chain Length

This research tested the hypothesis of whether fatty acid saturation and chain length of feedstock oil has any effect on the physico-chemical properties of synthesized kerosene-like fuel. Biodiesel was obtained from the feedstocks via transesterification and were subjected to distillation under vacuum between 50 to 100 o C to obtain kerosene-like fuel as the final product. The heat value, flash points, kinematic viscosity and specific gravity values were obtained and found to be within the stipulated range of fossil kerosene. The products were analysed using infrared spectrometer to confirm the presence of the functional groups in the kerosene-like fuel produced. Furthermore, Analysis by the elemental analyser showed that the kerosene-like fuel obtained from coconut oil has a significantly higher heat content value (9211.9 Kcal.Kg -1 ) than that from cashew-nut oil (5699.4 Kcal.Kg -1 ). This distinction in heat value can be ascribed to the nature of fatty acid in the oils as coconut oil is significantly more saturated and has shorter fatty acid hydrocarbon chain length than cashew-nut oil.