Production of biodiesel from jatropha curcas oil using solid heterogeneous acid catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel produced by the transesterification of vegetable oils is a promising alternative fuel to diesel because of limited fossil fuel resources and environmental concerns. The use of heterogeneous catalysts greatly simplifies the technological process by facilitating the separation of the post-reaction mixture. The use of heterogeneous catalysts greatly simplifies the technological process by facilitating the separation of the post-reaction mixture. The purpose of the present work was to examine a heterogeneous catalyst, in particular, to produce methyl esters of jatropha curcas oil (JCO). In this study, the trans esterification of JCO with methanol was studied in a heterogeneous system, using Mg-Al hydrotalcites as solid base catalysts. The dependence of the conversion of JCO on the reactions variables such as the molar ratio of methanol/ oil, the amount of catalysts used, reaction temperatures and reaction times were performed. The conversion of 99% was achieved under the optimum reaction conditions.