EFFECT OF ALUMINUM AND ZINC OXIDES NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR BLEND ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF BIODIESEL FROM BLENDS OF NEEM AND WASTE COOKING OIL

The effect of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), zinc oxide(ZnO) nanoparticles and their blend on yield and quality of biodiesel from blends of Neem (Azadirachtaindica) and waste cooking oils has been evaluatedin this study. Characterizing using the X-ray diffraction(XRD) technique reveals that both nanoparticles are crystalline and are within the nanoparticles size range with grain sizes of 9.61nm and1.31nm, respectively.Acid values and %FFA of blends of Neem and waste cooking oil were also observedto be suitable for transesterification without the need for prior esterification.Results show that all the sample blends gave biodiesel yields that are above 70% with a maximum yield of 97.1±0.8% by100wt%NMO:0wt%WCO sample blend, when treated with a combination of Al2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles.This shows that the combination of Al2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles is a promising catalyst for biodiesel production.Biodiesel samples were also analyzed for pour points, cloud points, flash points, saponification values, iodine values, cetane numbers and calorific values to unveil the oil quality. Analysis results show that most of the determined fuel properties of the biodiesel samples were within ASTM standards.