1Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, 3, FIIRO Road, Near Cappa Bus Stop Off Agege Motor Road, Oshodi P.M.B. 21023, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
2Petrochemicals Division, Department of Petrochemicals and Allied, National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, P.M.B. 1052, Basawa-Zaria, Nigeria
3Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, P.M.B. 5001, Dutsin-Ma, Kastina State, Nigeria
4Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, P.M.B. 2356, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
5College of Agriculture, P.M.B 1018, Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author email id: lahassan897@yahoo.com
Vegetable oils are good raw materials in producing biodiesel via transesterification using alcohol. Like fossil diesel biodiesel combustion in diesel engines is a source of heavy metals deposition into the environment. Biodiesel was produced from Neem seed oil, Jatropha seed oil and Shea butter oil using methanol and sodium hydroxide as catalyst. Heavy metals (Al, Pb, Co, Cu, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cr, Fe, Cd and Ni) in the biodiesels were analysed spectrophotometrically. The results revealed the concentrations of these metals in the following order:Sheabutter oil biodiesel was K > Al > Pb > Co > Fe > Zn > Cr > Mg > Ni > Cd> Cu, Neem oil biodiesel was Al > Co > K > Pb > Fe > Mg > Zn > Mn > Cd > Cu > Cr, unwashed Jatropha oil biodiesel was K >Al >Pb >Fe>Cr >Mg >Ni >Cd >Cu >Zn >Ni and lastly washed Jatropha oil biodiesel was Al >Pb >Co >K >Ni >Mg >Cr >Fe >Cd >Zn >Cu. The effects of these heavy metals in biodiesels on diesel engines were appraised as well.
Biodiesel, Engine, Heavy metals, Pollution
