High quality biodiesel production using multitechnically degummed oil extracted from seeds of Jatropha curcas (Linn.)

Abstract

The need to provide information on the most suitable degumming process that could be used for the pre-treatment of the oil extracted from Jatropha curcas seed for high-quality biodiesel production necessitated this study. A heterogeneous catalyst for the transesterification process was synthesised from the Jatropha curcas seed husk and characterised using a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrophotometer, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrophotometer. The characterisation of the heterogeneous catalyst produced from the Jatropha curcas shell with SEM analysis showed a spongy-like interwoven microstructure surface morphology. The results of FT-IR and XRF confirmed the existence of a high percentage of potassium, which played a pivotal role in the catalytic process. The study showed that the extracted oil contained a substantial amount of FFA, measuring 5%, which, after using ionic, top and acid degumming processes, the FFA reduced to 1.55%, 2.96% and 2.54%, respectively. Process modelling and optimisation indicated that optimal conditions were 4.968 wt% catalyst loading, 17.934:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, 5.879 h as time of reaction and a corresponding 65.948% yield of biodiesel. From the statistical evaluation, the model had a p value which was lower than 0.0001, and a difference between the adjusted R² and predicted R² of <0.2, which confirmed the fact that the model was significant for biodiesel production.