Lipase-catalysed production of biodiesel fuel from some Nigerian lauric oils

Fatty acids esters were produced from two Nigerian lauric oils, palm kernel oil and coconut oil, by transesterification of the oils with different alcohols using PS30 lipase as a catalyst. In the conversion of palm kernel oil to alkyl esters (biodiesel), ethanol gave the highest conversion of 72%, t-butanol 62%, 1-butanol 42%, n-propanol 42% and iso-propanol 24%, while only 15% methyl ester was observed with methanol. With coconut oil, 1-butanol and iso-butanol achieved 40% conversion, 1-propanol 16% and ethanol 35%, while only traces of methyl esters were observed using methanol. Studies on some fuel properties of palm kernel oil and its biodiesel showed that palm kernel oil had a viscosity of 32.40 mm(2)/s, a cloud point of 28 degreesC and a pour point of 22 degreesC, while its biodiesel fuel had a viscosity of 9.33 mm(2)/s, a cloud point of 12 degreesC and a pour point of 8 degreesC. Coconut oil had a viscosity of 28.58 mm(2)/s, a cloud point of 27 degreesC and a pour point of 20 degreesC, while its biodiesel fuel had a viscosity of 7.34 mm(2)/s, a cloud point of 5 degreesC and a pour point of - 8 degreesC. Some of the fuel properties compared favourably with international biodiesel specifications.