STUDIES ONARGEMONE MEXICANA OILFOR ITS USAGE AS BIODIESEL

Abstract

Argemone mexicana is a herbaceous medicinal plant belonging to the family Papaveraceae. It is indigenous to Mexico. Nowadays it is distributed throughout the hotter parts of India, up to 1500 meters elevation as a weed. A.mexicana seeds were collected from the Agasthiyamalai Biosphere Reserve Forest of South Western Ghats regions. The seeds were crushed by using a Mortar and Pestle. The oil was extracted  with hexane by using a Soxhlet apparatus. The oil was blended with the conventional diesel at 10% (B10) & 20% (B20) proportions for the physico chemical analysis. The physical properties assessed includes, pH, viscosity, density, specific gravity, flash point, fire point, cloud point, pour point, smoke point, carbon residue. The chemical properties analyzed were acid value, iodine value and saponification value. The evaluation was carried out for its potential use as a biodiesel and the results were discussed in the present communication