Feasibility of the Production of Argemone pleiacantha Ultrasound-Assisted Biodiesel for Temperate and Tropical Marginal Areas

The present work studies biofuel production using an American native species that belongs to the Argemone genus. It is considered a weed, and its presence extends from the southern United States to some areas of South America; the species Argemone pleiacantha, together with other species of the same genus, is known as chicalote. Oil physical and chemical properties confirm that chicalote oil is an effective raw material for biofuel production, presenting a fatty acid composition similar to that of soybean oil. A biodiesel production study was carried out using two methods of synthesis, conventional and ultrasound-assisted transesterification, employing the same molar ratio and amount of catalyst in both cases. Reaction time and supplied energy during synthesis were compared in batch mode. The results revealed that ultrasound-assisted transesterification has significant advantages over the conventional one in terms of reaction time and energy savings during chicalote oil synthesis to produce fatty acid methyl esters.

Automated summary

This study investigates the use of an American native species, Argemone pleiacantha, as a raw material for biofuel production. The study confirms that chicalote oil, extracted from this species, has similar fatty acid composition to soybean oil, making it suitable for biodiesel production. The study compares conventional and ultrasound-assisted transesterification methods and finds that the latter has significant advantages in terms of reaction time and energy savings.