Comparative Study on Biodiesel Production from Different Feed Stocks
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Author:R. Mythili, P. Venkatachalam, P. Subramanian and D.Uma
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:98, Issue:apr-jun
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100274
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.
Key words : Biodiesel, Free fatty acid, Transesterification.