An Investigation into the Fuel Properties of Ackee Apple (Blighia sapida) Seeds Oil

Research interests in biofuel in Nigeria are primarily driven by the Nigerian Biofuel Policy and Incentives of 2007. Palm oil, one of the agricultural produce suggested for biodiesel production in Nigeria, has food and industry value. Therefore, there is a need to investigate crops/plants that are food and industry neutral. The fuel properties of ackee apple seeds oil were investigated in this study. Using standard test methods, the results revealed that the average density of the ackee apple seeds oil was 789.3 ± 0.12 kg/m3 at 15 0C and the average kinematic viscosity was 4.73 ± 0.12 mm2/s at 40 0C. Compared with those of petroleum-based diesel fuels, the density of the ackee apple seeds oil was slightly lower, while the kinematic viscosity was slightly higher. While ackee apple seeds have appreciable amount of oil (average oil yield was 42.96 ± 0.12 %), its use in the raw form in diesel engines is limited. For ackee apple seeds oil to serve as an alternative fuel in diesel engines, further investigations are needed beyond these initial results.