Process intensification of biodiesel synthesis via ultrasound‐assisted in situ esterification of Jatropha oil seeds

Abstract

BACKGROUND Non‐edible oil such as Jatropha oil has high free fatty acids (FFAs) content. Therefore, acid esterification is a suitable route to reduce its FFA content to an acceptable limit (2 FFA%) before being subjected to further transesterification. In the present study, Jatropha seeds were utilized as the feedstock directly instead of Jatropha oil during ultrasound‐assisted in situ esterification. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of in situ esterification of Jatropha oil seeds using sulphuric acid (H2SO4) as catalyst with the aid of ultrasound. RESULTS The reaction parameters (particle size, n‐hexane to methanol volume ratio, H2SO4 amount, reaction time and ultrasonic amplitude) were optimized and evaluated in term of extraction and esterification efficiencies as well as fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield. The highest extraction efficiency of 83.96%, esterification efficiency of 71.10% and FAME yield of 38.58% were achieved at particle size of 1–2 mm, n‐hexane to methanol volume ratio of 3:1, 5 vol% of H2SO4 and ultrasonic amplitude of 60% with reaction time of 150 min. CONCLUSION Synthesis of biodiesel via ultrasound‐assisted in situ esterification of Jatropha oil seeds was successful with considerable yield, which could provide improvement in terms of process intensification and more value added by‐products. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Optimization of the in Situ Transesterification of Grain Sorghum (Milo) DDGS to Fatty Acid Methyl Esters and Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters

“…In that study, the AG conversion peaked at 32.2%. Conversely, several reports demonstrate the utility of the IST method to produce FAME from a variety of feedstocks in significantly higher (> 70%) yields (Dalvi et al, 2012; Haas and Scott, 2007; Pokharkar et al, 2008a, b; Tan et al, 2019; Tarigan et al, 2019; Wyatt et al, 2018).…”

Assessment of niobium phosphate as heterogeneous catalyst in esterification with methyl acetate

“…Among possible routes for FAME production from vegetable oils with a high content of free fatty acids, esterification reactions are considered as a promising alternative, allowing reducing costs, increasing sustainability in biodiesel production and minimizing natural resource consumption . Because the oleaginous reagent comprises 75% of the total cost of biodiesel production, the substitution of traditionally used refined oils with alternative glycerides with high fatty acid oils has been studied through esterification and transesterification reactions, with an homogeneous acid and heterogeneous catalyst in the presence of methanol or ethanol .…”

In focus: Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Technologies

“…This issue of Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology ( JCTB ) includes seven research articles that dealt with biodiesel production, adsorbents from green and renewable resources and the techno‐economic and environmental sustainability study of Malaysia power generation …”

“…Tan et al utilized the Jatropha seed directly during ultrasound‐assisted in situ esterification to reduce the high free fatty acids (FFAs) content to acceptable limit of 2 FFA% before subjected to further transesterification reaction. They determined the highest extraction efficiency of 83.96%, specifically at ultrasonic amplitude of 60% with reaction time of 150 min.…”

“…This issue of Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology (JCTB) includes seven research articles that dealt with biodiesel production, 1 adsorbents from green and renewable resources [2][3][4][5][6] and the techno-economic and environmental sustainability study of Malaysia power generation. 7 Tan et al 1 utilized the Jatropha seed directly during ultrasound-assisted in situ esterification to reduce the high free fatty acids (FFAs) content to acceptable limit of 2 FFA% before subjected to further transesterification reaction. They determined the highest extraction efficiency of 83.96%, specifically at ultrasonic amplitude of 60% with reaction time of 150 min.…”