Production of neem oil ethyl ester (NOEE) or neem oil biodiesel by two step esterification of filtered neem oil.

Abstract

Due to the rapid decline of crude oil reserves, the use of

vegetable oils as diesel engine fuel in many countries.

The best way to use vegetable oil as a fuel is convert it

into biodiesel. Biodiesel is basically a methyl or ethyl

ester which is produced by transesterification process.

Transesterification is the reaction of fat or oil with an

alcohol to form ester and glycerol. In present

investigation neem oil ethyl ester (NOEE) is prepared

by two step i.e. esterification followed by

transesterification because neem oil contains high free

fatty acid. Further the physical, chemical and thermal

properties of NOEE are checked and it is found that the

properties of NOEE are very much comparable with the

diesel. So NOEE can be the excellent substitute of

diesel.