Study on the Effect of Operational Parameters on Conversion of Free Fatty Acids into Esters using Thin Layer Chromatography

Abstract

Nowadays the fossil fuels are becoming outmoded by the renewable and biological fuels. The biofuels are categorised as biodiesel, biogas and producer gas. The biodiesel is produced from edible, non-edible oils, used cooking oils and animal fats. Yield of biodiesel from these feedstocks depends on the quality of oils such as free fatty acid (FFA) and moisture content. In this study, a non-edible oil feedstock, Jatropha curcas oil (8.81% oleic acid) was chosen for the biodiesel production with the aid of an acid and base catalyst. In the acid treatment, the high FFA oil was treated using sulphuric acid (2%) at 50°C for 1 h. This product mixture was separated into layers by gravity. The lower part of the mixture was known as pretreated oil, another layer was unknown component, and it was identified using thin layer chromatographic technique.