Transesterification of Jatropha Oil Devoid of Co-product, Glycerol

Abstract

The transesterification process breaks down triglycerides into alkanoates and glycerol back bones which in turn react with alcohol in the presences of suitable catalyst to produce monoalkyl esters and glycerin. During the transesterification reaction, the glycerol backbone of triglyceride is substituted by alkyl group from alcohol forming fatty acid alkyl esters and glycerol as the major liquid products. A study was carried out to determine the possibility of producing biodiesel by transesterification reaction without the co-product, glycerol. Transesterification reactions were performed at 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65°C for 50, 60, 70, and 80 minutes. The feed stocks were Jatropha curcas seed oil, methanol in the molar ratio of 3:1 (methanol: oil) and 0.4% bulk calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst. Each product was analyzed with GC-MS to determine the methyl esters and glycerol content. Only two products at 65°C had glycerol of 2.228 and 0.21%. The average methyl ester contents were 96.72, 96.23, 97.36 and 79.80% at 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65°C respectively.