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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bio-oils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289914

Title: Fatty acid profile of kenaf seed oil

Author
item RAZON, LUIS - De La Salle University
item BACANI, FLORINDA - De La Salle University
item Evangelista, Roque
item Knothe, Gerhard

Submitted to: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2013
Publication Date: 3/23/2013
Citation: Razon, L.F., Bacani, F.T., Evangelista, R.L., Knothe, G.H. 2013. Fatty acid profile of kenaf seed oil. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 90:835-840.

Interpretive Summary: Biodiesel is an alternative to diesel fuel derived from petroleum. It is produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oils, or other feedstocks with suitable components. Insufficient amounts of vegetable oil or other feedstock to replace all petroleum-derived diesel fuel make identifying additional feedstocks important. In this work, the seed oil of a plant called kenaf (scientific name: Hibiscus cannabinus) not previously utilized for biodiesel or other purposes is described regarding its composition. Knowledge of the composition of such potential feedstocks is important to correlate fuel and other properties with the various components and ultimately judge the suitability of the feedstock.

Technical Abstract: The fatty acid profile of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed oil has been the subject of several previous reports in the literature. These reports vary considerably regarding the presence and amounts of specific fatty acids, notably epoxyoleic acid but also cyclic (cyclopropene and cyclopropane) fatty acids. To clarify this matter, two kenaf seed oils (from Cubano and Dowling varieties) were investigated regarding their fatty acid profiles. Both contain epoxyoleic acid, the Cubano sample around 2% and the Dowling sample 5-6% depending on processing, confirming previous literature reporting the presence of epoxyoleic acid. The cyclic fatty acids malvalic and dihydrosterculic were identified in amounts around 1%. Trace amounts of sterculic acid were observed as were minor amounts of C17:1 fatty acids. The results are discussed in the context of the fatty acid profiles of other hibiscus seed oils.