Experimental Investigation of Essential Oil Extraction Using Hydro-Distillation from Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus) Leaves for Liquid Biofuel Application

Liquid biofuels are a type of renewable energy that can be used for electricity generation and heating applications. Eucalyptus globulus leaves, a lignocellulosic biomass, contain a significant amount of cellulose suitable for biofuel

production. This study focused on optimising liquid biofuel production from

Eucalyptus globulus leaves using hydro-distillation. Key steps included raw material collection, proximate analysis, and biofuel extraction. The optimisation process examined the effects of temperature, particle size, and extraction time, applying a Central Composite Design within the RSM framework. The final biofuel was then characterised to assess its quality. A proximate analysis of Eucalyptus globulus leaves was conducted and revealed the following composition: moisture content (9.47%), volatile matter (76.50%), ash content (1.05%), and fixed carbon (12.98%). The experimental result indicated a maximum liquid biofuel yield of 3.40% (ml/g) at 100°C, 5 mm, and 3 hours. Under the optimum value predicted using the Central Composite Design model, the optimum yield of 3.32 % (ml/g) was achieved at 104.71°C, 4.45 mm, and 3.71 hours, and the validation value at the optimum parameter was 3.10 % (ml/g). The produced liquid biofuel exhibited desirable physicochemical and fuel properties, including a pale yellow colour, density of 0.77– 0.90 g/mL, kinematic viscosity of 1.84–2.35 mm²/s, higher heating value of 37.54 MJ/kg, mass yield of 2.56%, energy density ratio of 1.82, energy yield of 46.60, acid value of 1.24–1.82 mg KOH/g, flash point of 132 °C, and boiling point of 217.80 °C. FTIR analysis revealed key functional groups, including O–H, C–H, C=O, C=C, and C–O. The findings suggest that hydro-distilled biofuel from EGL is a viable alternative energy source and could contribute significantly to addressing fuel shortages in rural areas.