Kanakraj, Dixit and Rehman Optimization of degummed Linum usitatissimum methyl ester from methanolysis as a potential resource for diesel engines ABSTRACT Studies were carried out on the methanolysis of crude and degummed Linum usitatissimum seed oil with methanol for methyl ester synthesis. In this study, response surface methodology was applied in order to optimize the reaction factors for methyl ester synthesis. The present work also studies the experimental conditions such as catalyst

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... tration, molar ratio (methanol:oil) and reaction time on the conversion of Linum usitatissimum seed oil to methyl esters. The conversion was above 96.2% under the condition of 60 ºC, methanol-oil molar ratio of 8:1, reaction time of 60 minutes and catalyst concentration (catalyst/oil) of 0.6 wt%. The resulting methyl esters (biodiesel) and its diesel blends were characterized for basic fuel properties including density, viscosity, cloud and pour point, flash and fire point, calorific value and acid value. The results show that the enzymatic degummed Linum usitatissimum seed oil used with a phosphorus (phospholipids) level of 9.8 ppm provides an excellent methyl ester yield of over 96.2% and basic fuel properties of these blends are comparable to those of conventional diesel fuel at 20% of methyl esters concentrations.