Liquid biofuels are being increasingly considered as
alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel as energy sources
owing to their potential to reduce numerous
environmental stress caused by fossil fuel use. Biodiesel
has similar fuel properties to diesel and therefore it can be
used as a substitute for diesel fuel, either in neat form or
in blends with petroleum diesel (Pasias et al., 2006). It has
the following advantages over petroleum-based diesel; it
is renewable, carbon neutral, more rapidly biodegradable,
less toxic, has a higher flash point and low sulfur content.
Availability of feedstock and optimization of production
process are, however, among the biggest challenges
facing biofuel industry worldwide. In most parts of
Nigeria, Cucurbita pepo is cultivated mainly for the fruits
and the leaves which are used as vegetable. The seed oil
has no known commercial application yet. Therefore, in
the search for alternative oils for biodiesel production,
Cucurbita pepo seed oil presents a promising choice.
Among the culinary applications of the seed oil includes,
it serves as a salad dressing when combined with honey or
olive oil. The oil is not commonly used for cooking
(Schinas et al., 2009) probably because cooking the oil
destroys its essential fatty acids.