Variations in Oil Content and Biodiesel Yield of Jatropha Curcas from Different Agro-Ecological Zones of Ghana
Derkyi,
Nana Sarfo Agyemang,
Sekyere,
Daniel,
Oduro,
Kwame Antwi
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 4, July 2014
Pages:
76-81
Received:
4 August 2014
Accepted:
13 August 2014
Published:
20 August 2014
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijrse.20140304.11
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Abstract: Jatropha curcas is a perennial, deciduous, shrub, which produces seeds rich in oil that is easily convertible into biodiesel. The major constraint in achieving higher biodiesel yield of J. curcas is insufficient information about its climatic variability. The objective of the current work therefore was to evaluate the oil content and biodiesel yield of J.curcas from different climatic conditions in Ghana. Jatropha seeds were collected from six different agro-ecological zones of Ghana. Oil from each sample was obtained by employing soxhlet extraction using n-hexane. Base-catalyzed transesterification reaction was used to transform the oil into biodiesel. The free fatty acid content and moisture content of the jatropha oil and its biodiesel were determined according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemist method. The seed moisture content ranged from 6.00 to 8.40%, free fatty acid ranged from 2.79 to 4.96% and the oil content ranged from 44.20 to 49.70%. The biodiesel yield ranged from 82 to 90%. The least value was recorded in the Evergreen forest zone whilst the highest value was recorded in the Transition Savanah zone. Climatic condition based on rainfall, seed moisture content and free fatty acid characters studied presented highly negative correlation with biodiesel yield. It can therefore be concluded that in selecting seeds for either biodiesel production or for plantation establishment, selection should be geared towards minimal values for these parameters studied which automatically raise the biodiesel yield in J. curcas seeds. The results of this study could provide the development of active bioenergy enterprise that aim at biodiesel production from J. curcas plant in Ghana.
Abstract: Jatropha curcas is a perennial, deciduous, shrub, which produces seeds rich in oil that is easily convertible into biodiesel. The major constraint in achieving higher biodiesel yield of J. curcas is insufficient information about its climatic variability. The objective of the current work therefore was to evaluate the oil content and biodiesel yiel...
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Energy Recovery from Exhaust Air of Textile Industry
Mehari Weldemariam Degefa,
Solomon Tesfamariam Teferi
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 4, July 2014
Pages:
82-86
Received:
25 July 2014
Accepted:
13 August 2014
Published:
30 August 2014
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijrse.20140304.12
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Abstract: A system to recover part of the energy of exhaust air from an axial fan of 75kW using a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine is discussed in this paper. The actual air data at the fan outlet are collected from central air conditioning station of a composite textile mill (Kombolcha Textile Share Company) using log-Tchebycheff method. Since the air flow type determines the steps in progress the air flow type is arithmetically found to be fully turbulent. A duct is designed to correct the air turbulence and transport the exhaust air from the fan to the turbine. The enclosure duct design is developed in consideration of the actual situation of the company to attain a fully developed region where the air speed attains a uniform velocity profile and create a venturi effect (to increase the air speed) for better energy output and guide the air before it interacts with the wind turbine blades. By turning what was exhausted to useable form 5.7kW of electric power can be harvested. As there are vast application areas of industrial air system, utilizing the exhaust from such air systems as energy resource could be helpful and used as supplementary power for industry production floor lighting and little power supply requiring auxiliary processes.
Abstract: A system to recover part of the energy of exhaust air from an axial fan of 75kW using a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine is discussed in this paper. The actual air data at the fan outlet are collected from central air conditioning station of a composite textile mill (Kombolcha Textile Share Company) using log-Tchebycheff method. Since the air flow type...
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