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Process intensification of biodiesel synthesis via ultrasound‐assisted in situ esterification of Jatropha oil seeds
Author(s) -
Tan Shiou Xuan,
Ong Hwai Chyuan,
Lim Steven,
Pang Yean Ling,
Milano Jassinnee
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.5869
Subject(s) - biodiesel , transesterification , jatropha , methanol , acid value , yield (engineering) , extraction (chemistry) , biodiesel production , chemistry , hexane , jatropha curcas , raw material , biofuel , pulp and paper industry , catalysis , particle size , sonication , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , chromatography , materials science , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , composite material , biology , engineering
BACKGROUND Non‐edible oil such as Jatropha oil has high free fatty acids (FFAs) content. Therefore, acid esterification is a suitable route to reduce its FFA content to an acceptable limit (2 FFA%) before being subjected to further transesterification. In the present study, Jatropha seeds were utilized as the feedstock directly instead of Jatropha oil during ultrasound‐assisted in situ esterification. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of in situ esterification of Jatropha oil seeds using sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) as catalyst with the aid of ultrasound. RESULTS The reaction parameters (particle size, n‐hexane to methanol volume ratio, H 2 SO 4 amount, reaction time and ultrasonic amplitude) were optimized and evaluated in term of extraction and esterification efficiencies as well as fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield. The highest extraction efficiency of 83.96%, esterification efficiency of 71.10% and FAME yield of 38.58% were achieved at particle size of 1–2 mm, n‐hexane to methanol volume ratio of 3:1, 5 vol% of H 2 SO 4 and ultrasonic amplitude of 60% with reaction time of 150 min. CONCLUSION Synthesis of biodiesel via ultrasound‐assisted in situ esterification of Jatropha oil seeds was successful with considerable yield, which could provide improvement in terms of process intensification and more value added by‐products. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry