Studies on the Production of Biodiesel from Non-Edible Oils Using Different Catalysts

Abstract

In the last decade, there is an increasing concern in finding substitutes for petroleum refinery products from natural renewable sources. Vegetable oils are suitable candidates for this purpose; this is due to two reasons: Firstly, the expected depletion of petroleum reservoirs all over the world in the future; secondly, the hazardous effect of petroleum hydrocarbons to the environment. The present investigation is a contribution in this field. Thus, jatropha oil (a non-edible oil) was used as a source of biodiesel by transesterification processes. Five catalysts: two acidic and three basic were utilized to accomplish these processes. The biodiesel obtained was treated with a natural antioxidant obtained by extraction of phenolic antioxidant from basil. The physico-chemical properties of the obtained biodiesel were determined using the international standard methods ASTM. The results obtained revealed blending of the biodiesel obtained with petroleum diesel increases its cetane number. Keywords: Natural renewable sources, jatropha oil, transesterification, natural antioxidant, cetane number.