Conversion of Jatropha Oil into Biodiesel in Continuous Process Using Alkali and Mixed Catalysts
The esterification of palmitic acid in Jatropha Oil using 8wt% p-TSA catalyst was done at the 1:8 molar ratio of oil to methanol and 65℃. The conversion of palmitic acid appeared to be 95.3% in 60min. After that, the continuous transesterification of the oil using 0.5wt% KOH, 0.8wt% TMAH mixed catalyst[40vol% KOH(0.5wt%) + 60vol% TMAH(0.8wt%)] and 1.1wt% TMAH was conducted with the flow rates and the molar ratios at 65℃. The overall conversion of Jatropha Oil increased with the decrease of flow rate and showed 95.6% with 9ml/min of flow rate at the 1:8 molar ratio of oil to methanol and 65℃. But it showed 87% with 15ml/min of flow rate at the same conditions. The recovery of methanol(%) appeared to be 86% at the 1:8 molar ratio of oil to methanol, mixed catalyst and 65℃.