A crucial factor limiting the application of widespread kukui trees in Hawaii for biofuels and value-added chemical production is the lack of extensive knowledge of the biomass characteristics. The present work unprecedently and comprehensively characterized the fuel properties of the reproductive kukui nuts collected in Honolulu, HI, USA. Proximate and ultimate analyses, heating value, and elemental composition of the seeds, shells, and de-oiled seed cake were determined across the five sampling locations. The oil content of the seeds, the properties of the oil, and the impacts of storage were also determined. The seeds were found to yield even higher oils in comparison with pongamia and kamani seeds and the de-oiled cakes have a nitrogen content as high as soybean cakes. The major ash-forming element present in shells are Mg and Ca, &gt;80%wt of all metal elements detected, which would possibly cause much fewer deposition problems for thermochemical conversion. kukui oil was found to have similar characteristics as canola and would be expected to be well suited for biofuel production.

Comprehensive characterization of Kuikui nuts for bioenergy production in Hawaii

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