COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BIODIESEL PRODUCE FROM ASH GOURD SEED OIL USING METHANOL AND ETHANOL

Biodiesel as a sustainable and alternative energy source can be applied directly to industrial and automobile fields even as fuel source for power plant. Therefore, this paper seek to study the use of ash gourd seed oil as feed stock to produce biodiesel using methanol and ethanol, using standard method. The results indicated that the acid number of the two biodiesel range between 12.90±0.02mgKOH/g -- 16.83±0.02mgKOH/g, pH range between 6.50±0.01 -- 6.51±0.01, iodine number range between 250±0.2gI2/100g --- 275±0.2gI2/100g, flash point range between 100±0.1oC -- 110±0.1oC, sulphur content range between 0.01±0.1ppm -- 0.23±0.1ppm, viscosity range between 18.85±0.02mpa/S – 24.14±0.02mpa/S and density range between 0.875±0.2gcm3 -- 0.922±0.2gcm3 . In conclusion, when the result was compared with European standard and thermal test conducted the biodiesel produce perform well with auto devices when used and compatible with petrol diesel.