RESEARCH ARTICLE
Optimization of pretreatment of Jatropha oil with high free fatty acids for biodiesel production
1. Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; 2. Chemical Engineering Department, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
发布日期:
2012-06-05
摘要
A central composite rotatable design and response surface methodology were used in order to investigate the individual and combined effects of the ethanol-to-oil ratio, H SO concentration, temperature and time of reaction on the reduction of free fatty acid (FFA) in jatropha oil. A quadratic polynomial model relating the reaction variables with FFA reduction was developed, presenting a good coefficient of determination ( = 0.893). For reducing FFA to less than 1%, the optimal combination was found to be 0.62 v·v ethanol-to-oil ratio (14.9 v·v ethanol-to-FFA ratio), 1.7% v·v H SO concentration, and 79 min reaction time at a reaction temperature of 54°C. These results are of great relevance to maximize methyl esters formation by transesterification using an alkaline catalyst.