Production of Jatropha curcas L. Seed Oil DMC-Js-BioDs by Optimized Dimethyl Carbonate Using Potassium Hydroxide as Catalyst

Abstract

Abstract

The use of Jatropha curcus L. seed oil as the feedstock for biodiesel (DMC-Js-BioDs) production has observed growing interest because it is a non-edible oil. In this study, the production of DMC-Js-BioDs from J. curcas seed oil with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as the solvent was performed. The reaction was conducted in the presence of KOH as a catalyst to investigate the optimum conditions and study the effects of the variables on the reaction. These variables included seed oil to DMC molar ratios of 1:1 to 1:6, KOH catalyst concentrations of 0.5 to 2.5% on DMC basis, and 15 to 75 min reaction times at reflux temperature with agitation speeds of 25 to 175 rpm. The optimum conditions for DMC-Js-BioDs production were an oil to DMC molar ratio of 1:4, a catalyst concentration of 2.0% on DMC bases at reflux temperature and a reaction time of 60 min with 150 rpm agitation. The DMC-Js-BioDs yield under these optimum conditions was 96%, and all the measured properties of DMC-Js-BioDs met the specifications and international standards of ASTM D 6751-02. The experimental results showed that all the reaction variables in this research study had positive effects on the reaction.

Keywords: Alkali-catalyst, dimethyl carbonate, Jatropha curcus seed oil, magnesol powder, solvents

Cite this Article

Panchal Balaji M, Kalaji Hazem M. Production of of Jatropha curcas L. Seed Oil DMC-Js-BioDs by Optimized Dimethyl Carbonate Using Potassium Hydroxide as Catalyst. Journal of Alternate Energy Sources and Technologies. 2017; 8(2): 56–63p.