1Department of Chemistry, Anambra State University, Uli
2Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
3Faculty of Education, Anambra State University, Uli
4Department of Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
Online published on 6 March, 2013.
Diesel engines represent most widely used machines in agriculture. The exhaust gases from the combustion of fossil fuels in the engines pollute the environment. Watermelon seed (Citrillus vulgaris) oil was evaluated for its physical and chemical properties as fuel for diesel engines. Oil was extracted from watermelon seed by soxhlet method. The oil yield was 20% and the oil was comparatively analyzed for fuel properties: relative density, refractive index, viscosity, water content, calorific value, gross calorific value ash content and burning characteristics. Trace metal and IR spectra analysis were also determined. Results showed that the watermelon seed oil could be utilized as substitute for diesel oil.
Diesel oil, Citrillus vulgaris, alternative, seed oil, fuel properties
