Methanolysis of Jatropha Oil Using Conventional Heating

Abstract

Studies were carried out on the transesterification, also called methanolysis, of oil from the Jatropha curcas L. with methanol using conventional heating for the production of biodiesel. All reactions were carried out in a batch-stirred reactor and in the subsequent separation and purification stages. The high free-fatty acid (FFA) level of Jatropha oil was reduced to less than 1% by a two-step process. The first step was carried out with 12% w/w methanol-to-oil ratio in the presence of 1% w/w HCl as acid catalyst in a 2h reaction at 343K. The second step was carried out with variable parameters: temperatures at 318K and 333K, initial catalyst concentrations at 0.5% and 1.5%, methanol:oil molar ratios at 4:1 and 6:1, and reaction times at 1h and 2h. Gas chromatography analysis was used to determine the fatty acid profile of crude Jatropha oil. Methanolysis of Jatropha oil used the catalysts NaOH and KOH. The high FFA level of Jatropha oil was reduced from 6.1% to 0.7% after the first step process. The highest yield of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), however, was achieved at 92.7% in 2h at 4:1 methanol:oil molar ratio, 1.5% w/w KOH, and 333K reaction temperature. This method produced biodiesel that met ASTM’s biodiesel standards. Results showed a density of 0.8g/ml that is within 0.86–0.9kg/l standard range and a kinematic viscosity of about 4.1cSt that is within 2–4.5cSt standard range. The flash point of the biodiesel samples fell between 169oC and 179oC while the cloud point averaged at 6oC.

Catalytic esterification and transesterification reaction of high acidic value waste oil by microwave heating

“…Esterification and transesterification reaction times decreased using the microwave heating system from hours to minutes with a high FFA conversion (84.24%) and a methyl ester content (97.23%), respectively. A microwave heating system was used since it is gaining popularity over conventional heating owing to its inherent advantage of rapidity and convenience [14,16,[33][34][35].…”

Koroch (Pongamia pinnata): A Promising Unexploited Resources for the Tropics and Subtropics

“…The process is also called alcoholysis. When methanol is used, it is called methanolysis and esters that produced in methanolysis are called fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and in case of ethanol, the process is termed as ethanolysis and the esters produced in this process are called fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) [55]. The transesterification is a reversible reaction, so alcohol must be added in excess to ensure the reaction in the right direction.…”

Castor (Ricinus communis): An Underutilized Oil Crop in the South East Asia

“…The process is also called alcoholysis. When methanol is used, it is called methanolysis, and esters that are produced in methanolysis are called fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), and in case of ethanol, the process is termed as ethanolysis, and the esters produced in this process are called fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) [92]. The transesterification is a reversible reaction, so alcohol must be added in excess to ensure the reaction in the right direction (Figure 3).…”