Thesis Archive

Transesterification of Jatropha Curcas L. Oil with Ethanol Using Conventional and Microwave Heating (2011)

Mutia, Jenn Luster
Casiano, Leah Nazel

Abstract:

-Biodiesel is made up of alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids developed from plant oils particularly vegetable oil, animal fats or used cooking oils. Jatropha curcas L.oil, “tuba-tuba” in the Filipino, can be a viable alternative source for biodiesel. Since the crude Jatropha curcas L. oil has a high acid value, it was pre-treated using esterification with sulfuric acid, alcohol to FFA ratio of 24:1, catalyst to oil ratio of 4% and reaction time of 6 minutes. This resulted to a significant decrease of 91.10% from the original acid value. After pre-treatment, transesterification process was performed with high and low level parameters of 50oC and 70oC for temperature., 1% and 1.5% catalyst to oil ratio and 4:1 and 6:1 alcohol to oil ratio. The catalyst used is NaOH and KOH. For conventional heating, the reaction time employed was 5 hours and 8 hours. While for microwave 5 minutes and 15 minutes were used. Based from the esterified oil, the highest percent yield attained through conventional heating is 73 % using a temperature of 70OC, reaction time of 5 hours, 1% w/w NaOH catalyst and 6:1 alcohol to oil ratio. On the other hand, for the microwave heating, the highest percent yield obtained is only 67.42% using a temperature of 70OC, reaction time of 5 minutes, 1% w/w KOH catalyst and 4:1 alcohol to oil ratio. The samples with the lowest total glycerol content for both conventional and microwave resulted to a density, flash point, cloud point and acid value that is within range or considered acceptable based from biodiesel standards and previous studies conducted. However the viscosity obtained was higher than the desired. It was concluded that producing ethyl esters from Jatropha curcas L. oil were viable but resulted in low yield. However, some of the properties of biodiesel were comparable to those in the methyl ester standards.

Adviser:

Susan Roces