Transesterification of Jatropha curcas L. oil with petroleum ether as dispersal medium

Issue Date

8-2011

Abstract

The use of petroleum ether as a possible dispersal medium for the transesterification of J. curcas oil was investigated. Initial results have shown that at 1:15 (v/v0 petroleum ether:methanol ratio, the reaction time can be reduced to 10 min which is a significant improvement compared to the 60-min reaction time required in a typical transesterification process. This was consistent with the optimum methanol and catalyst loadings reported in a previous study for conventional transesterification process for petroleum-assisted reaction. Optimum process parameters identified were 1:5 petroleum ether to methanol volumetric ratio, 6.89:1 methanol to oil molar ratio and 0.2: NaOH to oil molar ratio, at a temperature range of 50-55˚. Initial cost estimate of J. curcas biodiesel obtained from petroleum-assisted transesterification indicates that the biodiesel product could be cheaper due to less capital outlay and production cost.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463x

Volume

36

Issue

2

Page

48-55

Document Type

Article

Frequency

tri-quarterly

Physical Description

tables, graphs

Language

English

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