Journal of
Petroleum Technology and Alternative Fuels

  • Abbreviation: J. Pet. Technol. Altern. Fuels
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2360-8560
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPTAF
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 69

Full Length Research Paper

Development of a mathematical model for the esterification of Jatropha curcas seed oil

K. Mu’azu
  • K. Mu’azu
  • National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, Nigeria.
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I. A. Mohammed-Dabo
  • I. A. Mohammed-Dabo
  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
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S. M. Waziri
  • S. M. Waziri
  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
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A. S. Ahmed
  • A. S. Ahmed
  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
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I. M. Bugaje
  • I. M. Bugaje
  • National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, Nigeria.
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A. S. Ahmad
  • A. S. Ahmad
  • Center for Renewable Energy Research, Umaru Musa Yar’ádua University, Katsina, Nigeria.
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  •  Accepted: 18 January 2013
  •  Published: 31 March 2013

Abstract

 

In this study, a mathematical model for the esterification reaction of Jatropha curcas seed oil was developed in terms of catalyst concentration, methanol to oil ratio and reaction time. Analysis of the crude Jatropha oil indicates that the free fatty acid (FFA) of the oil was 16.1% having composition of 37.24, 37.13, 15.85 and 9.76% of linoleic, euric, palmitic and stearic acids, respectively. FFA (%) measurement was used in determining the extent of esterification of the oil. The experimental results demonstrated that methanol to oil ratio was the only significant model term affecting FFA reduction at 95% confidence level. Comparison of experimentally obtained FFA with predicted values by the developed model showed high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.9657). The developed mathematical model can be employed in optimization and simulation of FFA reduction during vegetable oil esterification within the range of parameters studied.

 

Key words: Esterification, Jatropha oil, free fatty acid, response surface methodology (RSM)

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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