EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY ON TRANSESTERIFIED RUBBER SEED METHYL ESTER

Abstract

In the present study, rubber seed oil obtained from rubber seed cotyledons has been considered as a
potential feed stock for the production of biodiesel. Physicochemical properties of the oil were analyzed and the
production of biodiesel through conventional transesterification technique was well established in this study. The specific
objective of the research is to measure the specific gravity of the biodiesel with respect to temperature, molar ratio and
alkaline catalyst. Also a comparison between the fuel properties of as-prepared biodiesel and standard biodiesel were
made. Results of transesterification of rubber seed oil shows an enhancement in fuel properties and found to meet the
ASTM D 6751 standards of biodiesel. Storage of biodiesel leads to degradation of fuel properties and affects the
performance of an engine. Hence, an attempt has been made to check the stability of a biodiesel for a period of year.
Overall study suggests that rubber seed oil methyl ester can also be used as a substitute to the conventional diesel even
after a year.