OPTIMIZATION AND REACTION KINETICS OF IN-SITU TRANSESTERIFICATION OF JATROPHA CURCAS SEEDS

Minimizing the cost of raw materials and the cost of processing is the key to make
biodiesel technology competitive. Use of a non-edible oil such as Jatropha curcas oil
can be cheaper option; in-situ transesterification of oil seeds can reduce the processing
costs of oil recovery. In-situ alkaline transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil seeds
with methanol, isopropanol and the mixture of methanol with isopropanol were
explored in a stirred tank reactor. Optimum operating conditions were established
through response surface methodology for promising options. Inspite of higher
solubility of oil in isopropanol, in-situ alkaline transesterification of Jatropha curcas
oil seeds with methanol was observed to be better with a yield of (90.45  0.25)%.
Mixing methanol with isopropanol could enhance the yield of methyl-isopropyl ester
yield of (94.78  0.29)%. The properties of methyl-isopropyl ester were similar to the
properties of methyl ester which were in agreement with the standards of EN 14214
and ASTM D6751.