Microwave Energy Pretreated In Situ Transesterification of Jatropha Curcas L in the Presence of Phase Transfer Catalyst

Abstract:

In the present work, microwave heat pretreatment of jatropha curcas seed particles and use of phase transfer catalyst (PTC) to enhance in-situ transesterification were utilized together. It was observed that use of alkaline BTMAOH as a PTC and microwave heat pretreatment of jatropha curcas seed particles had substantially increased the reaction rate of in-situ transesterification as compared to the reaction conducted with microwave untreated seeds in the absence of BTMAOH as a PTC. Statistical model equation was developed to investigate the interaction effect of reaction variables and establish optimum reaction condition. At optimum condition, experimentally obtained FAME yield (93.7±1.53% w/w) was in close agreement with statistical model predicted FAME yield (96.75%) at 38°C and 37 minutes of reaction time.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 625)
• Pages: 267-270
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.625.267
• Online since: September 2014
• Authors: Sintayehu Mekuria Hailegiorgis*, Mahadzir Shuhaimi, Duvvuri Subbarao
• Keywords: Fatty Acid Methyl Ester, Jatropha Curcas l, Microwave Energy, Phase Transfer Catalyst, Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

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