Conversion of Jatropha curcas oil into biodiesel using re-crystallized hydrotalcite

Abstract

Biodiesel production from biomass is considered renewable and the use of biomass offers huge opportunity in bio-based economy market. In this work, biodiesel was produced from Jatropha curcas oil using synthetic hydrotalcite (HT) catalyst. The catalyst was obtained through combustion, in which, saccharose was used as fuel. The highest conversion of jatropha oil to biodiesel at 75.2% was achieved using re-crystallized HT from its mixed oxides when reaction was carried out at 65°C with a methanol:jatropha oil molar ratio of 12:1, a reaction time of 6h and a catalyst loading of 4wt.%. The HT calcined at 850°C contained medium basic strength sites and suitable pore medium that favored the chemical reaction.