Title: Factors interactions and the modelling of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas oil

Authors: Ifeanyi Francis Offor; Richard Chukwuemeka Ehiri; Chihurumnanya Ola Ude

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria ' Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria ' Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract: Renewable sources of energy such as biodiesel are attracting global attention as a result of dwindling petroleum resources, rising crude oil prices, increasing CO₂ emissions and global warming. Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) is a plant-based non-edible feedstock that can be modified in order to enhance its use as transport fuel. A two-level-three-factor central composite design (CCD) was employed in base catalysed transesterification reaction requiring 16 experiments where reaction time (X₁), catalyst concentration (X₂) and methanol to oil ratio (X₃) were used as variables to optimise the biodiesel yield using response surface methodology (RSM). A modified statistical model comprising of all significant factors and interactions (P < 0.0001) obtained by multiple regressions predicted that the highest yield of JCO-based biodiesel was 99.17% at the following optimised values: X₁ = 1.8 hrs, X₂ = 1% and X₃ = 5:3:1. Also, there were significant interactions between X₁, X₂ and X₂, X₃. Gas chromatographic analysis of the JCO-biodiesel identified caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, myristoleic and oleic acids as fatty acid components. The model has been found to describe the experimental range studied adequately.

Keywords: biodiesel production; biofuels; transesterification; optimisation; Jatropha curcas oil; JCO; response surface methodology; RSM; modelling; central composite design; CCD; reaction time; catalyst concentration; methanol to oil ratio.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2015.068597

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2015 Vol.6 No.2, pp.181 - 195

Received: 22 Nov 2013
Accepted: 18 Jun 2014
Published online: 25 Apr 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article