Department of Food and Agricultural Engineering

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Browsing Department of Food and Agricultural Engineering by Author "Adebayo K. R"

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    CHARACTERIZATION AND DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM BLENDING RATIO OF BLENDED WATERMELON SEED OIL METHYL ESTER
    (Published by School of Infrastructure, Process Engineering and Technology (SIPET) and the School of Electrical Engineering and Technology (SEET) of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria, 2024) Busari R. A; Adebayo K. R; Alabi K. P
    Watermelon fruit contains large amounts of seeds, which are underutilized in Nigeria. The seeds contain about 22% oil, which can be used as vegetable oil or as feedstock for biodiesel to power agricultural machineries. This study explored the physicochemical properties of watermelon biodiesel, crucial for understanding its suitability for various applications. The research demonstrated that watermelon biodiesel meets specified standards such as ASTM D-6751 and EN-14214, ensuring its viability for widespread use. Post-transesterification, the viscosity of raw watermelon oil decreases, though it remains notably higher than that of conventional diesel fuel. Moreover, watermelon biodiesel blends ranging from B5 to B25 comply with diverse specification standards, further validating its utility. Despite reductions in density, specific gravity, and flash point after transesterification, these values remain higher compared to diesel fuel. The study developed regression equations to forecast properties at varying blending ratios, indicating strong correlations between biodiesel properties and blending percentages. Notably, the derived equations exhibited high coefficient of regression values (0.8389 for density, 0.9317 for kinematic viscosity, 0.9669 for flash point, 0.9702 for specific gravity, and 0.9025 for calorific value), highlighting the reliability of predictions. Based on standard compliance considerations, a blending ratio of up to 25% was recommended as optimal for achieving desired properties in watermelon biodiesel blends.