Production of Melon Methyl Ester Using Melon Seed Oil as Feedstock

Over the years, the increase in the petroleum prices and the uncertainty concerning petroleum availability has led to the growing interest in the use of biodiesel as an alternative diesel fuel which has become more attractive because of their environmental benefits and the fact that it is made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils and animal fats. The production of the melon methyl ester known as melon biodiesel was carried out using raw melon seed oil as feedstock,through the process of transesterification which is the reaction of triglycerides (in vegetable oils) with methanol in the presence of an alkaline catalyst usually sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.This book considers the most important variables which influences the transesterification reaction time and conversion.The young plant sprouting on a hard surface facing an industrialized community in the cover page is the green future of the biodiesel as an alternative substitute for petroleum-based diesel. This analysis should help throw more light on the materials, reagents and methods used in the biodiesel production and would be especially helpful to students carrying out research on biodiesel production.