Abstract
The pursuit of sustainable energy alternatives has driven the development of technologies that utilise agro-industrial residues as renewable energy sources. Among these, avocado-derived biodiesel emerges as a promising substitute for conventional diesel, owing to its high fatty acid content, particularly oleic acid, and its potential for reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to evaluate and characterise the oil extracted from avocado pulp for biodiesel production. A total of 1.5 kg of fresh avocado pulp was heated at 230 °C with continuous stirring until a pasty consistency was achieved. The material was then oven-dried at 200 °C for one hour, cooled to room temperature, and ground into a homogeneous mass. Initial oil extraction was performed using artisanal filtration with a cloth coffee filter, followed by manual pressing to separate the crude oil from the solid fraction. The oil was subsequently decanted and filtered to remove residual impurities, yielding approximately 100 mL of crude oil, corresponding to an average extraction efficiency of 6.7% (w/w) relative to the initial mass. The results demonstrate that avocado pulp is a viable feedstock for biodiesel production. It is essential to emphasise that this study focuses on the extraction and physicochemical, spectroscopic, and thermal characterisation of avocado oil as a potential biodiesel feedstock; the production of biodiesel and evaluation of fuel performance were not within the scope of this work. This approach provides preliminary technical data for future conversion studies, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions. This research is part of the project Biocombustíveis para um Futuro Sustentável: Inspirando Meninas e Mulheres na Ciência (BIOFEMME), which promotes the engagement of women and girls in scientific research and technological innovation.
