Prospect of parallel biodiesel and bioethanol production from JatrophaCurcas seed.

Abstract

This study focuses on the utilization prospect of JatrophaCurcas seed solely as transport sector renewable fuel for producing biodiesel and bioethanol in a parallel system. Diesel (biodiesel) and petrol (bioethanol as petrol additive) engine fuel could be produce from J. Curcas seed oil portion and its' seed residue, respectively. Ultrasonic-assisted reactive extractions were used for simultaneous oil extraction and esterification/transesterification of J. Curcas seed. The use of acid/alkaline catalyst and ultrasound resulted in a completely de-oiled seed residual by extracting about 50% oil which is equivalent to the Soxhlet extraction performance. The seeds were being chemically and physically characterized with ultimate analyses and TGA for its suitability as bioethanol raw material. Ultimate analyses revealed similarity with other bioconversion feedstock having carbon and oxygen as the major chemical compositions; with slightly lower carbon content in the residuals due to the oil extraction during the in-situ process. However, TG profile exhibited better decomposition of mass in the ultrasonicated residues having easier accessible and better degradable fiber for bioethanol production process. These shown positive effects on the J. Curcasseed pre-treatment during biodiesel reactive extraction process and for further bioconversion toward bioethanol.