Page 139 - Biofuels Refining and Performance

122 Chapter Four

has no value for animal feeding but is recognized as both a fertilizer
and nematicide [88]. Besides medical use, esters of neem oils have some
important fuel properties that can be exploited for alternative fuels for
diesel engines [78]. Nabi et al. have produced biodiesel from neem oil
by using 20% methyl alcohol and 0.6% anhydrous lye catalyst (NaOH).
The temperature of the materials was maintained at 55–60 C.
Compared with conventional diesel fuel, exhaust emissions including
emission was increased with
smoke and CO were reduced, while NO x
diesel–biodiesel blends. However, NO emission with diesel–biodiesel
x
blends was slightly reduced when exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) was
applied. According to the results, Nabi et al. have recommended the
use of the ester of this oil as an environment-friendly alternative fuel
for diesel engines [117].

4.2.11 Rubber seed oil
Crop description. Hevea brasiliensis—commonly known as Pará rubber
tree, rubber tree, jebe, cauchotero de para, seringueira, or siringa—
belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae (see Fig. 4.12). The rubber tree
originates from the Amazon rain forest (Brazil). Today, most rubber
tree plantations are located in Southeast Asia and some are also in
tropical Africa. The tree can reach up to 30 m high. Oil can be extracted
from the seeds. Although there are variations in the oil content of the
seed from different countries, the average oil yield has been 40% [118].

Figure 4.12 Hevea brasiliensis.