Application of response surface methodology for the optimisation of biodiesel production from Jatropha-algae oil blend

Abstract

The transesterification technique is used to produce methyl esters from jatropha-algae oil. The effect of four variables on higher biodiesel yield, such as molar ratio, reaction temperature, catalyst amount and reaction duration, is calculated, and the process is optimised using Response surface methodology based on Box–Behnken Design. At a molar ratio of 1:10, reaction temperature of 53°C, 0.3% by weight. Percent catalyst, and reaction duration of 172 min, an optimum biodiesel yield of 96% is attained. With a relative error of 4% of the experimental outcomes, the projected optimal conditions were experimentally validated (96%). The ANOVA P value of 0.0001 indicates that the model is significant.