Optimisation of biodiesel production from Jack fruit seed oil using response surface methodology

Abstract

In this work, the FFA of raw jack fruit seed oil was found to be 4.92%. The raw oil was converted into biodiesel by means of an alkali-based transesterification process. The transesterification process is governed by various parameters such as methanol-oil ratio, reaction time, catalyst loading and reaction temperature. The optimisation of above-said parameters has been carried out by means of response surface methodology using un-coded units in Box–Behnken Design. The optimised yield of methyl ester of Jack fruit seed oil is obtained at 1:8 molar ratio, 60°C reaction temperature, 90 min reaction time and 0.6 wt.% catalyst loading. Based on these parameters, the experimental yield has been found to be 92.5% which is in accordance with the optimised yield. The FFA of the biodiesel obtained using the optimised conditions have been found to be 2.14% which is in accordance with ASTM standards. The properties of the biodiesel obtained using the optimised conditions have been compared with the parent oil.