Optimization of Esterification and Transesterification of High FFA Jatropha Curcas Oil Using Response Surface Methodology

Prerna Goyal ； M. P. Sharma ； Siddharth Jain

《Journal of Petroleum Science Research》 1卷3期 (2012/10) Pp. 36-43

並列摘要

Optimization of parameters for reduction of Free Fatty Acid content (FFA) of ＂Jatropha curcas＂ oil (JCO) and maximization of yield of ＂Jatropha curcas＂ biodiesel (JCB) (%) has gained importance for boosting the fuel industry and improving the production efficiency of biodiesel. A five-level-four-factorial Central Composite Design (CCD) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the process variables for minimizing the FFA of JCO and maximizing the JCB (%) yield. The high FFA (14.6%) of JCO could be reduced to 0.34% by its pretreatment with methanol (6.5:1) using H_2SO_4 as catalyst (1.5% v/v) in 125 min time at 50℃ temperature. A JCB yield of 98.3% was achieved with methanol/oil molar ratio (11:1) using NaOH as catalyst (1% w/w) in 110 min time at 55℃ temperature. Second-order model equations were obtained to predict the FFA content and JCB yield as a function of input parameters. The models can be successfully adopted in fuel industry to reduce the FFA content of JCO and maximize the yield of methyl esters, thereby, improving the economy of the process. The prepared JCB conformed to the ASTM and IS standards specifications.

並列關鍵字

Esterification ； Transesterification ； Optimization ； JCB Yield ； FFA Content