Abstract

Biodiesel is produced from lipid feed stocks. The biodiesel production technology would vary according to the quality of feedstock. In this study, biodiesel production was carried out in vegetable oils from coconut, palm and Jatropha curcas. Effect of process parameters such as oil to alcohol ratio and catalyst concentration on biodiesel production was investigated. The optimal conditions for processing of palm and coconut oil were: temperature 60°C; oil to methanol molar ratio of 1:6 and sodium hydroxide of 1 and 0.6%, respectively. The high free fatty acid (8.89% as oleic acid) content J.curcas oil was pretreated using 2% H 2 SO 4 with 1:6 oil to methanol molar ratio at 50°C for 1 h. The free fatty acid reduced Jatropha curcas oil was processed at 1:6 oil to methanol molar ratio and 0.75% NaOH for 2 h at 60°C. Under these optimum conditions the yield of monoester from palm, coconut and J.curcas oil were, 97.50%, 94.10% and 96%, respectively.

Keywords: Biodiesel, Free fatty acid, Transesterification.