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Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering >> 2012, Volume 6, Issue 2 doi: 10.1007/s11705-012-1282-5

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

Available online: 2012-06-05

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Abstract

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.

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