Biodiesel Production from Jatropha Oil Using Ethanol with Alkali Catalyst
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Date
2011-07
Authors
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Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The jatropha oil was extracted using solvent extraction and mechanical pressing. The
extracted oil was refined through degumming and neutralization followed by washing and
drying. The acid value, amount of free fatty acid, saponification value and flash point of the
extracted jatropha oil were determined. The biodiesel was produced from jatropha oil using
anhydrous ethanol (99.4% w/w) anhydrous NaOH catalyst (97% w/w). The experimental
design was done in two parts. The first one was done for one factor of four levels to establish
the parameters influence independently on biodiesel yield. To determine the temperature
effect, experiments were done at temperatures of 35
o
o
o
o
C, 55
C, 65
C and 75
C. Similarly, to
investigate the effect of amount of catalyst, experiments were done at 0.25% (w/w), 0.5%
(w/w), 1% (w/w) and 2% (w/w) of NaOH catalyst. In addition, to determine the influence of
molar ratio of alcohol to oil, molar ratios of 6:1, 8:1, 10:1 and 12:1 were used. In the second
of the experimental design, the full factorial, was done for the three factors at two levels and
two replicas at a temperature of 55
o
o
C and 65
C, molar ratio of alcohol to oil 6:1 and 8:1, and
the amount of catalyst required was 0.5% (w/w) and 1% (w/w), which were used to
investigate the effects of the three parameters and their interaction simultaneously on
biodiesel yield. It was found that the standardized effect of molar ratio of alcohol to oil had
the highest effect whereas the least effect was observed at the interaction of temperature and
alcohol. The standardized effect of the interaction of all the three parameters together was
greater than the temperature effect alone. The average maximum biodiesel yield was 83.6%
(w/w) at 55
o
C, 8:1 molar ratio of alcohol to oil and 1% (w/w) NaOH catalyst amount. On the
other hand, the average minimum biodiesel yield was 64.9% (w/w) at 65
o
C, 6:1 molar ratio
and 0.5% (w/w) catalyst amount. The viscosity, density, flash point, acid value, saponification
value, moisture content and ash content of the produced biodiesel were determined. These
properties were matched with ASTM specifications except viscosity which was slightly
higher than ASTM limit.
Description
Keywords
Jatropha Oil, Alkali Catalyst, Biodiesel Production, Ethanol