Potential of Chrozophora tinctoria Seed Oil as a Biodiesel Resource

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that has been widely used in recent years. There are various resources used as biodiesel feedstocks, including animal fats, waste oils, and vegetable oils. In the present study, Chrozophora tinctoria seed oil is introduced as a new biodiesel feedstock. C. tinctoria is a weed and non-edible plant. So, the primary cost of this resource is very low, and hence it can be considered as a biodiesel source. This plant can also grow in most weather conditions. In the present study, the research team tried to produce biodiesel from C. tinctoria seeds through a transesterification reaction. To intensify the transesterification reaction, an ultrasonic device was used. In order to perform the transesterification reaction, potassium hydroxide was used as a catalyst. Important parameters, such as the reaction temperature, reaction time, molar ratio of methanol, and concentration of the catalyst, were adjusted. Based on the adjusted conditions, a biodiesel yield of 84% was attained. The properties of the C. tinctoria biodiesel was compared with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard. The results show the properties of a biodiesel: the density, kinematic viscosity, pour point, flash point, cloud point, and acid number are 0.868 g/cm3, 3.74 mPa, −7 °C, 169 °C, 4 °C, and 0.43 mg, respectively. The specification properties of C. tinctoria biodiesel can thus pass the requirement of the ASTM standard. So, C. tinctoria seed oil can be used as a suitable fuel source instead of petroleum-derived fuels.