BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM CITRULLUS LANATUS AND CUCUMIS MELO SEED OIL BLENDS: A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FEEDSTOCK

Abstract

Biodiesel, or fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) is a renewable, biodegradable and non-toxic alternative to petroleum diesel. In this study, biodiesel was synthesized from crude seed oils of two Cucurbitaceae species Citrullus lanatus L. (watermelon) and Cucumis melo L. (muskmelon) through base-catalyzed transesterification. The process was optimized at 60 °C for 2 hours using NaOH as a catalyst and a 1:6 molar ratio of oil to methanol, achieving conversion yields of about 50% for both oils. Altering these parameters led to reduced biodiesel yield and increased soap formation due to free fatty acid interactions. The resulting biodiesel was evaluated for key physicochemical and fuel properties, which were in close agreement with ASTM standards and comparable to conventional diesel. These results demonstrate that watermelon and muskmelon seed oils represent promising, underutilized feedstocks for sustainable biodiesel production, with potential application as an eco-friendly substitute for fossil-based diesel owing to their lower carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions.