Quantitative analysis of various plant oils using priority estimation model for evaluation of potential biodiesel feedstock / Farhana Haque Nimme

• Main Author: Farhana Haque , Nimme
• Format: Thesis
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Q Science (General)
• Online Access: http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/11059/2/Farhana_Haque.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/11059/1/Farhana_Haque.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/11059/

Energy security, fluctuating petroleum prices, resource depletion issues and global climate change have driven countries to consider adding alternative and renewable energy options to their conventional energy share. The use of biofuel such as non-edible oils-based biodiesel is as an option over conventional diesel and could be important for the development of a sustainable and eco-friendly energy resource. The aim of the present study was to select the most feasible plant oil as biodiesel feedstock by using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), one of the multi-criteria decision making methods based on priority estimation model. Among various non-edible plant oils, selection of the most feasible plant oil was evaluated based on seven criteria including seed oil yield, oil yield, free fatty acid (FFA) content, cold filter plugging point, oxidation stability, easiness to grow in marginal land, and availability in tropical areas. The obtained result from priority determination showed that, nyamplung is the most efficient source of biodiesel industry having weightage of 0.180. It is followed by kemiri sunan (2nd order) having weightage of 0.164, physic nut 0.150 (3rd order), indian beech 0.107(4th order), indian milkweed 0.095(5th order), lead 0.092 (6th order), kapok 0.076 (7th order), cassia 0.049 (8th order), soursop 0.043 (9th order) and monkey pod 0.043 (10th order). This study highlights an insight into multi criteria decision making technique to assess the feasible plant oil for biodiesel production that could aid decision-making in the industry and policy development.