Possibility of use a small fraction of rape seeds for the production of biofuels for compression ignition engines

The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of using small seeds of rape (diameter <1.6 mm,) perceived as a raw material of inferior nutritional quality, for the biofuels production. Research material was samples of industrial mass of rapeseeds originating from three Polish regions. The seed mass was cleaned in a sieve separator, removing mineral matter (stones), cereal grains, stems and dusts. Then, the sample was sifted through a set of sieves and two fractions were received: seeds with diameter >1.6 mm – sample F1 and with diameter < 1.6 mm – sample F2. Each fraction was characterized by its share in bulk mass, moisture content, 1000 seeds weight, yield of pressing, fat content and phosphorus content. Cold-pressed oils were determined in terms of total and unhydrated phosphorus content, acid value and fatty acids content. Fractionation by weight rapeseeds with using an industrial sieve separation may provide a simple method for improving the technological value of the raw material used for food purposes, and thus obtain fine seed that could be intended exclusively for the production of technical oil. Despite the stated inferior quality of small seeds, it was found that the increased values of some discriminants would not have impact on the technology of biofuel production and cost of production.

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Opracowanie ze środków MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na działalność upowszechniającą naukę.