Optimization of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas L. oil by transesterification with haxane as consolvent

Date

4-2010

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Rex B. Demafelis

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Abstract

The optimization of the production of methyl ester from Jatropha curcas L. oil by transesterification with hexane as cosolvent was conducted using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on central composite design with the aid of Design Expert 7 computer software. The four important reaction variables considered were the reaction temperatures of 55 °C to 70 °C, methanol to oil molar ratios of 7 to 9, sodium hydroxide to oil mass percentages of 0.6% to 1.4%, and hexane to methanol volumetric ratios of 0.2 to 0.6. The initial conditions were the optimized conditions determined by Escobar et al., 2008. The response considered in optimization of methyl ester production was its purity which should be at least 96.5% to pass the Philippine National Standard (PNS). Using RSM, quadratic polynomial equation was obtained for predicting the purity of methyl ester produced. The optimum point predicted and verified experimentally has the conditions of 60oC reaction temperature, 7.42:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 0.93 % NaOH to oil mass percentage, and 0.42 hexane to methanol volumetric ratio achieving 100% purity. A time profile of the transesterification from 3 minutes to 15 minutes at 2 minute interval, at the obtained optimum conditions was also performed to determine the best reaction time which resulted to 7 minutes achieving 99.24% purity.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology

Document Type

Thesis

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