Methanolysis of Jatropha curcas oil using K2CO3/CaO as a solid base catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel, fatty acid methyl ester produced by the transesterification of vegetable oil with methanol, is a promising alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel. In the present study, the methanolysis of high free fatty acid (FFA) Jatropha curcas oil in a transesterification reaction using K 2 CO 3 /CaO solid base catalyst was studied. The various reaction parameters in the transesterification reaction were also discussed. The catalyst was characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, temperature programmed desorption of CO 2, scanning electron microscopy, particle size analyzer, true density, and surface area analyzer. The optimum conversion of jatropha oil was 92% when the transesterification reaction was carried out at 70◦ C with 10:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil at reaction time of 3 h and catalyst amount of 6 wt%. The efficiency of catalysts in the methanolysis of jatropha oil was also investigated.