Oil obtained from orange peels and velvet tamarind nut by solvent extraction (n-hexane and acetone) using the soxhlet extractor were investigated as feedstock’s to determine some of the suitable parameters such as iodine value, saponification value, specific gravity, density, acid value and free fatty acid value, and their percentage yield that are suitable for biodiesel production. The density of orange and tamarind oil were found to be 0.9326g/cm3 and 0.8541g/cm3 respectively, their acid values were 19.81gNaOH for orange oil and 18.93gNaOH for velvet tamarind oil. The degree of unsaturation of both oils as determined by their iodine values were; 10.47gI2/100g for orange oil and 5.39gI2/100g for velvet tamarind oil. The viscosities of the oil were 11.29mPa.s and 26.55mPa.s for orange and velvet tamarind oil respectively. The various values obtained were compared with specifications of ASTM D6751 standard and established that the oil obtained from orange peels and velvet tamarind nuts could be used as alternative to/or blended with petro diesel.
Keywords: Biodiesel, Orange peel, Velvet Tamarind nut, n-hexane, Acetone.
