Okra seed oil biodiesel: Investigating underutilized seed oils as potential biofuels

CHED 1112

Matthew R. Austin, Rebecca Z. Havens, rebecca.havens@gordon.edu, Irvin J. Levy, irv.levy@gordon.edu, Jennifer L. Soerensen, jennifer.soerensen@gordon.edu, and Dwight J. Tshudy, dwight.tshudy@gordon.edu. Department of Chemistry, Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA 01984
Okra seed abounds in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and has a protein and fat profile similar to that of conventional vegetable oils used for both food and biodiesel production. Okra seed, however, is underutilized and understudied. Here we present a laboratory-scale extraction of oil from okra seed and preparation of biodiesel from okra seed oil. Further we present a comparison of properties of okra seed biodiesel to conventional biodiesel and comment on the viability of okra seed as a potential fuel source. We also examine the potential use of liquid CO2 to replace Soxhlet extraction of the oil, reducing energy consumption and use of non-renewable resources. Finally, we discuss the outcomes of this project in light of the "12 Principles of Green Chemistry."
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008