Dynamic kinetic calculation of castor oil biodiesel

Diesel oil has an important role in the field of urban traffic as well as in the transportation of products. However, the amount of the non-renewable sources is continuously decreasing. This fact and the environmental requirements brought the necessity to search for other, renewable sources. This paper aimed the dynamic kinetic calculation of thermal decomposition of castor oil, methanol biodiesel and ethanol biodiesel using Coats-Redfern, Madhusudanan and Ozawa methods. On the base of the thermogravimetric curves the following thermal stability order could be established: castor oil > ethanol biodiesel > methanol biodiesel. Kinetic data presented coherent results. Methanol biodiesel presented lower activation energy than ethanol biodiesel, suggesting that methanol biodiesel has a better quality for combustion.