Biodiesel Production From Renewable Source : Date Pits Oil Of Deglet Nour-Tunisia

In recent year, the energy demand increases excessively due to the population growth. Tremendous utilization of fossil energy such as fuel based on petroleum and coal may causes their depletion in the future. In order to tackle this problem, a new alternative energy based on renewable sources should be used. Nowadays, Biodiesel production from non-edible oils gained a big attention. In this respect, the aim of this project was to study the potential applicability of date pits to produce biodiesel. Oil date pits extraction was carried out using soxtherm extraction. The obtained results show an oil content of 7.391% and exhibit a large amount of monounsaturated oleic acid with 41.07% which considered an important component for biodiesel production. The simulation of biodiesel production process was carried out using Aspen Plus. The simulation results show a percentage yield of biodiesel formation from date pits oil about 90%. The density and viscosity values of the biodiesel that was produced were found to be within the recommended standard limits of the American Standard for Testing Materials. (ASTM D6751) and European Committee for Standardization (EN14214). Therefore, the results obtained proved the potentiality using as a renewable feedstock for biodiesel production.