Revista de Ciencias Químicas

Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Jatropha Seed Oil, Using Sulphated Zirconia as Catalyst.

Abstract

Ibrahim Dhikrah, Dangoggo SM, Sani NA, Baki AS, Bagudo BU and Jibrin MS

The depletion of fossils fuels and increasing demand of conventional energy worldwide had been the main concern of scientist nowadays, in the process to find the sustainable alternative. The biodiesel appears to be promising alternative. The optimization of biodiesel production from Jatropha seed oil using sulphated zirconia as catalyst was investigated based on Box-behnken design. The optimum yield 97.91% was obtained at 1:8 oil to methanol ratio, 60°C reaction temperature, 2.15 hrs, and 2 w/w% catalyst loads. The response surface regression shows the variables constant, oil to methanol ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time, reaction temperature*reaction temperature and methanol to oil*catalyst load were significantly affect the biodiesel yield. The model adequately accounts for the empirical relationships between biodiesel and process variables.