Abstract
This research investigates the potential of blending complementary lard oil with rubber seed oil as feed-stock for biodiesel production.Rubber seed oil,obtained through hexane extraction using the Soxhlet method,contains the major fatty acids of oleic acid(C18∶1),palmitic acid(C16∶0),linoleic acid(C18∶2),and stearic acid(C18∶0),while rubber seed oil primarily consists of linoleic acid(C18∶2),oleic acid(C18∶1),linolenic acid(C18∶3),palmitic acid(C16∶0),and stearic acid(C18∶0).The least acid value of lard oil(0.55 mg KOH/g)can benefit of reducing soap formation of rubber seed oil during transesterification process in biodiesel pro-duction due to its substantial-high acid value(16.28 mg KOH/g).Blending at ratios below 80:20 volume ratio produced biodiesel exceeding 85%,utilizing CaO as a catalyst.Lard oil demonstrated a higher reaction rate constant(11.88 × 10-3 min-1)than rubber seed oil(2.11 × 10-3 min-1),indicating a significant dif-ference in performance.High acid value and free fatty acids in rubber seed oil correlated with lower re-action rates.Maintaining a mixture ratio below 80:20 volume ratio optimized reaction rates during biodiesel production.Biodiesel obtained from blends below 80∶20 volume ratio met ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards,demonstrating suitability for bio-auto fuel.The drawbacks of using rubber seed oil as a raw material for biodiesel production are overcome by blending with lard oil,giving rise to expanding renewable energy options for rural communities,community enterprises,and large-scale biodiesel production.