Optimization of process parameter in the production of Jatropha Methyl Ester using response surface methodology

Fast exhaustion of petroleum reserves and environmental pollution due to the ever-growing consumption of petroleum fuels have been the two major distresses all over the world. This work mainly focuses on decreasing the usage of petroleum products and their demand. Accordingly, it is aimed at investigations of the utilization of Jatropha Methyl Ester (JME) derived from Jatropha oil (JO) as fuel in four-stroke Compression Ignition (CI) engine. The transesterification process is employed to prepare the JME, and to investigate the influence level of the methanol quantity, the concentration of catalyst as well as stirrer speed on the production of JME, a process parameter optimization was carried out with the aid of response surface methodology and analysis of variance. The associations between the factors were established by a linear regression model. High yield production is obtained from the L₁₅ orthogonal array as per the RSM technique. Using the RSM and ANOVA technique, it is revealed that the yield production is highly influenced by methanol quantity followed by the catalyst concentration and Stirrer speed. Further, the results of the confirmation test have shown that the ester yield is increased highly in the quantity of methanol.