Reactive Extraction of Jatropha curcas L. Seed for Production of Biodiesel: Process Optimization Study

Biodiesel from Jatropha curcas L. seed is conventionally
produced via a two-step method: extraction of oil and subsequent esterification/transesterification to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), commonly known as biodiesel. Contrarily, in this study, a single step in situ extraction, esterification and transesterification
(collectively known as reactive extraction) of J. curcas
L. seed to biodiesel, was investigated and optimized. Design
of experiments (DOE) was used to study the effect of various
process parametersonthe yield ofFAME.Theprocess parameters
studied include reaction temperature (30-60 °C), methanol
to seed ratio (5-20 mL/g), catalyst loading (5-30 wt %), and
reaction time (1-24 h). The optimum reaction condition was then obtained by using response surface methodology (RSM)
coupled with central composite design (CCD). Results showed
that an optimum biodiesel yield of 98.1% can be obtained
under the following reaction conditions: reaction temperature of 60 °C, methanol to seed ratio of 10.5 mL/g, 21.8 wt % of H2SO4, and reaction period of 10 h.