Transesterification of Oil Extract from Locally-Cultivated Jatropha curcas using a Heterogeneous Base Catalyst and Determination of its Properties as a Viable Biodiesel
Leon M. Payawan Jr.,1*, Jossana A. Damasco2, and Kurt W.E. Sy Piecco3
1Institute of Chemistry, 2Natural Sciences Research Institute,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101
3Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Miagao, Iloilo 5023
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Solvent extraction using hexane of oil from Jatropha curcas nuts yielded 32.17% crude oil. The acid value of 107mgKOH/g sample indicates a high free fatty acid content which explains high yield of saponification products via the homogeneous base-catalyzed transesterification. Heterogeneous hybrid inorganic-organic base catalysts for transesterification were then designed and developed to facilitate a more efficient conversion of Jatropha curcas oils to bio-based fuels. Three types of solid catalysts were developed; amino-functionalized Zeolite Y, amino-functionalized MCM-41 and TBD-functionalized MCM-41. Transesterification using 10% by weight of the developed catalysts and a methanol-oil molar ratio of 15:1 at 80ºC for two hours resulted in a biodiesel yield of 86.60%, 74.94%, and 81.86%, respectively. Gas chromatogram showed the transesterified triglyceride components of Jatropha oil consisting 14.35% methyl palmitate, 1.14% methyl palmitoleate, 6.89% methyl stearate, 43.67% cis-9-oleic methyl ester, 30.88% methyl linoleate. Density and refractive index of the transesterified Jatropha oil were found to be 900 kg m-3 and 1.45 respectively and with a 38,589 kJ kg-1 heat of combustion.
INTRODUCTION
The possibility of a future fuel crisis and the increasing awareness of the health and environmental damage wrought by burning fossil fuels have motivated a lot of research on the development of clean and renewable alternative energy sources. Agriculture-based economies are putting their stake on biodiesel production from energy crops. With no competing food uses, this characteristic turns attention to Jatropha curcas which grows in tropical and subtropical climates across the developing world (Openshaw 2000). . . .
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