An approach to Produce Biodiesel From Non-edible <i>Jatropha curcus</i> Oil through Dual Step Process: Preesterification and Transesterification

Abstract

Studies were carried out to produce potential biodiesel from non-edible oil of Jatropha curcus. Due to its high free fatty acid (12% FFA), the crude Jatropha oil was processed in two steps: the acid-catalyzed esterification and followed by the base-catalyzed transesterification. The first step reduced the FFA level to less than 1% in 1h at 50°C for the 0.40 w/w methanol-to-oil ratio with 1% w/w of H2SO4. After the reaction, the mixture was stagnated for an hour and the methanol-water upper layer was discarded. The second step converted the product of the first step into biodiesel and glycerol through transesterification using 0.20 w/w methanol-to-oil and 0.5% w/w NaOH to oil as alkaline catalyst at 65°C. The maximum yield of biodiesel (organic phase of upper layer) and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) yield were achieved at about 95% and 84% within 1 hour respectively. The glycerol concentration in the byproduct (glycerol layer) obtained after dual step transesterification was found 32%. Key words: Jatropha curcus, Biodiesel, Esterification, Glycerol and Fatty acid DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i3.4409 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(3), 347-352, 2009

Bioenergy: Biofuels Process Technology

“…Biodiesel is defined as fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters (FAME) from vegetable oils or animal fats when they are used as fuel in diesel engines and heating systems (Marchetti and Errazu 2008). Nowadays, it is used as an alternative fuel due to depleting petroleum reserves (Sujan et al 2009). Fatty acid methyl esters are products of the transesterification (also called methanolysis) of vegetable oils and fats with methanol in the presence of a suitable catalyst to form alkyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerin.…”