Biodiesel Processes and Properties from Jatropha curcas L. Oil
Jatropha curcas L. oil is a promising feedstock of biodiesel. Different processes to produce biodiesel from Jatropha curcas L. oil with different acid numbers were compared. The results showed that a pre-treatment was necessary when the crude oil contained high free fatty acids (FFAs).
A two-step process including pre-esterification with acid catalyst and transesterification with alkali catalyst was used for the conversion of oil with acid number of 13.5 mg KOH/g. It achieved a high yield of biodiesel (> 97%). Pretreatment with alkali refining could improve the operation
of transesterification, but it led to losses of FFAs and oil. The losses increased with FFAs content. When the crude oil contained low FFAs, such as the oil with acid number of 3.1 mg KOH/g, a single transesterication process could be adopted, which achieved a biodiesel yield of 94%. The properties
of biodiesel were independent of production method.
Keywords: BIODIESEL; JATROPHA CURCAS L. OIL; PROCESS; PROPERTIES
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 December 2011
- The goal of the creation of a biobased economy is challenging to agriculture, forestry, academia, government and industry. The extractable resources of the Earth are finite, regardless of the quibble over when they will be depleted. The economic, political and social demands for biobased chemicals, materials and energy are expected to radically transform the materials industries, particularly the plastics industry as well as the biofuel industry. These changes will be based on the principles of sustainability, eco-efficiency, industrial ecology, and green chemistry and engineering. In keeping with the growth of knowledge in this field, there is a strong need for a forum to share original research related to biobased materials and bioenergy. The Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy (JBMB) has been created as an international peer-reviewed periodical to fulfill the need for communication in these research areas. This journal will encompass related research activities in all fields of science, engineering and the life sciences.
- Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Subscribe to this Title
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
Receive new issue alert- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content