ACID VALUE REDUCTION OF JATROPHA OIL FOR HIGH QUALITY BIODIESEL

Biodiesel as fuel is crucial for future energy sustainability. Feedstock selection is an important consideration for biodiesel preparation because of high amounts of free fatty acid content that hinders conversion. In present work, Jatropha oil was used as a feedstock for producing biodiesel. Jatropha oil was esterified using acid catalyst (sulphuric acid) by esterification process and reduces the free fatty acid content of Jatropha oil. Important variables are studied that affect acid value during esterification such as free fatty acid to methanol ratio, catalyst concentration and reaction time on were studied. Initial acid value of Jatropha oil was found 17 mg-KOH/g-oil and it reduces below 8.1 mg-KOH/g-oil in 1h under the conditions of 1:50 molar ratio of FFA: methanol, 20 wt % H2SO4 of oil at 63-64°C. Alkaline catalyst (Sodium Methoxide) was used for transesterification process to produce biodiesel using Jatropha oil as source material (reduced acid value)