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You are here: Research /
Research Project: CHARACTERIZATION, PRODUCTION,
AND UTILIZATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS FROM
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Location: National Center for Agricultural Utilization
Research
Title: Wild Brazilian Mustard (Brassica Juncea L.) Seed Oil
Methyl Esters as Biodiesel Fuel
Authors
Jham, Gulab -
MOSER, BRYAN
Shah, Shailesh
HOLSER, RONALD
Dhingra, Onkar -
VAUGHN, STEVEN
BERHOW, MARK
MOSER, JILL
ISBELL, TERRY
HOLLOWAY, RAY
WALTER, ERIN
Natalino, Ricardo -
Anderson, Jason -
Stelly, David -
Submitted to: Journal of the American Oil Chemists'
Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2009
Publication Date: July 12, 2009
Citation: Jham, G.N., Moser, B.R., Shah, S.N., Holser, R.A.,
Dhingra, O.D., Vaughn, S.F., Berhow, M.A., Moser, J.K.,
Isbell, T., Holloway, R.K., Walter, E.L., Natalino, R.,
Anderson, J.A., Stelly, D.M. 2009. Wild Brazilian Mustard
(Brassica Juncea L.) Seed Oil Methyl Esters as Biodiesel
Fuel. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society.
86(1):917-926.
Interpretive Summary: This research reveals that wild
mustard oil is acceptable as an alternative non-food
feedstock for biodiesel production. As a result of the
current debates about fuel versus food issues, alternative
non-food feedstocks for biodiesel production are an
important area of current research. The objective of this
study was to produce biodiesel from wild mustard oil and
evaluate its fuel properties taking into consideration
important biodiesel fuel standards. Wild mustard-biodiesel
has excellent low temperature properties and cetane
number as well as acceptable oxidative stability and
viscosity when compared to the American biodiesel
standard (ASTM D6751). These results will be important to
biodiesel producers, distributors, and end-users
(customers) because a new biodiesel fuel was described
that exhibits favorable fuel properties. This research may
ultimately improve market penetration, availability, and
public perception of domestically produced agricultural
fuels such as biodiesel, thus affording greater national
independence from imported petroleum-based fuels.
Technical Abstract: Wild mustard (Brassica juncea L.) oil is
evaluated for the first time as a potential feedstock for
biodiesel production. Biodiesel was obtained in 94 wt % yield
by a standard transesterification procedure with methanol
and 0.50 wt % sodium methoxide catalyst at 60 deg C and an
alcohol to oil molar ratio of 6:1. Wild mustard oil had a high
content of erucic (13(Z)-docosenoic; 45.7 wt %) acid, with
unsaturated constituents such as linoleic (9(Z),12(Z)-
octodecadienoic; 14.2 wt %) and linolenic (9(Z),12(Z),15(Z)-
octodecatrienoic; 13.0 wt %) acids comprising most of the

Project Team
BERHOW, MARK
VAUGHN, STEVEN
TISSERAT, BRENT
ISBELL, TERRY

Publications
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Quality and Utilization of
Agricultural Products (306)


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remaining fatty acid profile. The derived cetane number of
methyl esters (biodiesel) obtained from this oil was 61.1. The
kinematic viscosity and oxidative stability (Rancimat method)
of wild mustard oil methyl esters was 5.33 mm2/s (40 deg C)
and 4.8 h (110 deg C), respectively. The cloud, pour and cold
filter plugging points were 4, -21 and -3 deg C, respectively.
Other fuel properties such as acid value, lubricity, free and
total glycerol content, iodine value, Gardner color, specific
gravity, as well as sulfur and phosphorous contents were
also determined and are discussed in light of the biodiesel
standards ASTM D6751 and EN 14214, where applicable. Also
reported are the physical properties and composition of wild
mustard oil, including tocopherol and phytosterol contents,
along with identification of wild mustard collected in Brazil as
Brassica juncea L. (2n=36) as opposed to the currently
accepted Sinapis arvensis L. (2n=18) classification. In
summary, wild mustard oil appears to be an acceptable
feedstock for biodiesel production.
Last Modified: 09/11/2011
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